Positive Relationships: Parents - Single file

While all parents experience challenges from time to time, the stresses can be all the greater for single parents, and these look set to increase as families adjust to the Government's new Work Programme.

There are 1.9 million single parents in the UK, bringing up some 3 million children. Many parents struggle to find work and childcare that are flexible enough to fit with their family needs, while others are further hampered by their lack of education. Over 50 per cent of single parents on income support have no qualifications. Those in work still find it hard to juggle work and childcare.

While an estimated six out of ten single parents are in work, one-parent families have the greatest risk of poverty of any family type: 42 per cent of all poor children live in one-parent families.

BACK TO WORK

The Government believes that work is the best route out of poverty for single parents and this summer introduced its Work Programme. Under the scheme, parents in receipt of Income Support now have to move to Jobseekers Allowance when their youngest child is five years old.

At face value, it may seem difficult to argue against such a policy.

However, the Single Parent Action Network (SPAN) is concerned about the implications of this scheme for parenting, motherhood, child welfare and social inclusion.

The latest Household Below Average Income data shows that the risk of poverty for single parents remains at 29 per cent when the parent works part-time and 21 per cent where the parent works full-time. Furthermore, research has shown an increased risk of children's social exclusion when their parent moves into work. SPAN is also concerned that parents on Jobseekers Allowance could have their benefits withdrawn if they are unable to take a job or find work that is flexible enough to meet their needs.

Single parents will, therefore, come under increasing pressure over the next few years, and their need for sound advice, guidance and support will rise with it.

ONLINE ADVICE

Early years practitioners can help by signposting single parents, or indeed any family experiencing difficulties, to SPAN's new advice website at www.onespace.org.uk.

This has been developed with funding from the Department of Education. Through the website, single parents can access:

• Your Local Support, pointing to organisations that can offer advice

• An online community, where parents can share experiences and offer support, and so feel less alone

• Experts offering information on aspects of family life, such as money advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau, housing advice from Shelter, relationship advice from specialists in family law, child support and a relationship counsellor

• Learning zone, where parents can access courses on subjects such as life skills, assertiveness and ways into work. These courses are being offered as 'blended learning', combining face-to-face group work and online learning

• The Freedom Programme, part of the online learning zone that helps women understand their experience of being in an abusive relationship

• An online parenting course accredited by the Open College Network, giving parents the skills to enable their child to thrive.

INTEGRATING SERVICES

Alleviating the pressures within the lives of many single parents will not be achieved by online guidance alone. A greater integration of family services is also essential.

Some parents may be expected to accept jobs a long way from home and there will be families who need help to develop parenting skills and gain the confidence to move away from difficult relationships.

SPAN runs a family support and study centre for single parents in Bristol, offering a range of courses, advice drop-ins and support groups. In changing times, family organisations and childcare settings need to pull together to ensure that all children get the best start in life.

SINGLE PARENTS ACTION NETWORK

Single Parent Action Network (SPAN) aims to empower one-parent families from diverse backgrounds and cultures, often living in poverty and isolation. It supports the development of one-parent family groups and works with decision-making bodies to improve policies for one-parent families in the UK and internationally. Both SPAN and its online resource for single parents are at: www.onespace.org.uk.