  
Grosvenor Hall, Belfast, was the venue for the 2004 Training Awards Ceremony and AGM for Gingerbread NI.
Many congratulations to all of the recipients who received their well-deserved awards that morning. We are delighted to tell you 142 lone parents gained 140 qualifications in the past year! Not all of our trainees were able to make it to Belfast to receive their certificates but those who did seemed to enjoy themselves immensely!
The Training Awards Ceremony was followed by Gingerbread’s Annual General Meeting. The AGM is an opportunity for members to come together and review the work the organisation has undertaken throughout the year. The Annual Report and Audited Accounts were presented to members and endorsed.
A new Board was elected and which now includes some new faces!
  
"Lone parents now have much broader life choices thanks to the New Deal initiative", Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Social Development, commented at the launch of Choices 3, the third edition of the magazine produced specifically for lone parents in Northern Ireland on 24 June 04.
The magazine was produced by the Social Security Agency in partnership with Gingerbread Northern Ireland. This issue contained stories from people who have benefited from the New Deal for Lone Parents including Kelly Thompson who spoke at the launch.
Choices 3 provides information and advice for those seeking to move into or return to work and provides details on services and opportunities available to lone parents.
Mr Shannon said: “In the past number of years many people have taken part in New Deal for Lone Parents. Many have returned to work on either a full-time or part-time basis. Others have taken up the education or training options that are available. Choices 3 gives lone parents who are undecided a chance to read how and why others took the path they are currently on.”
Marie Cavanagh, Director of Gingerbread Northern Ireland, welcomed the new edition of Choices 3 saying: “We have packed in loads of useful and interesting information to explain what is on offer to lone parents and to signpost further information to ensure they get on the right track for them. The opportunities, resources and support are there and we wish to encourage people to benefit from them.”
Organisations such as the Social Security Agency and Gingerbread Northern Ireland, together with the New Deal for Lone Parents, recognise the value of the growing contribution lone parents make to the community. They are fully committed to ensuring that services are made available to lone parents to help break down the barriers they face and to promoting equality of opportunity for lone parents and their children. |
