17 November 2006
Training Awards and AGM 2006
Gingerbread NI celebrated the achievement of all the lone parents who took part in its training
programmes over the past year at the Annual
Training Awards which was held 17 November in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast.
The event was hosted by BBC Journalist and
Broadcaster Linda McAuley and the awards were
presented by Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary for the Department for Employment and Learning who warmly congratulated everyone on their achievements. It proved to be a great day out for everyone!
Gingerbread NI held this year’s highly successful Annual General Meeting on 17 November 2006 at the Wellington Park
Hotel, Belfast. The AGM was opened and chaired by Clare Broome, Gingerbread’s Chairperson who welcomed all the
members. Clare identified many of Gingerbread’s successful achievements and congratulated staff on the achievement of the Matrix Quality Mark which acknowledges the high standard of
service offered by Gingerbread’s training provision. Clare also
commented on Gingerbread’s successful local and international achievements through our Possibilities project supported by EQUAL.
Director of Gingerbread, Marie Cavanagh, presented the 2006
annual report. Marie pointed out that as we are now only 15 months from our 30th Birthday we had developed a new corporate logo to take us into our 4th decade. She highlighted the achievements of the training section where 265 lone parents had undertaken training achieving 285 qualifications between them and congratulated all the trainees present on their forthcoming awards.
The achievements of the advice service were acknowledged in the face of limited funding. Gingerbread dealt with 13,500 enquiries
ensuring that lone parents were better off by almost £1million and through the service Gingerbread has continued to represent one
parent families on matters such as tax credits, child support and other legislative and policy issues. Childcare services provided over 3,000 play/care sessions throughout the year and staff in our three centres had worked closely with parents on matters of child development. Marie pointed out that our membership had grown substantially throughout the year with a
cohort now of almost 1,000 lone parent members and over 150
associate members.
Treasurer, Karen Sweeney, thanked funders, corporate sponsors and the donating public for their support whilst Assistant Director, Rachel McAree, introduced and explained the audited accounts to the members.
During the election of the Board, Marie pointed out that nine
nominations had been received prior to the AGM and these
nominees were duly elected. She then asked for nominations from the floor and was delighted to receive a further 6 nominations bring the Board to its full quota of 15 members.
The Annual General Meeting was brought to a close with full
commendation going to staff volunteers and members with all
looking to a busy and exciting year ahead.
   
10 May 2006
Getting Connected! Western Area Information Day
Many lone parents, from the Derry area, “Got Connected” with a range of service providers at Gingerbread NI’s immensely successful information day in the Millennium Forum.
The main objectives of the event were to increase awareness of the range of services available to lone parents in the Derry area and to help lone parents make “connections” with service providers. Gingerbread was delighted with the response from lone parents who gave the day a resounding “thumbs up”!
The support and extremely positive comments from the service providers who attended was very gratifying for the event’s co-ordinator, Eileen Curran who commented: “A lot of time, hard work and energy was expended by the Gingerbread team in putting this event together and we are thrilled so many lone parents have had the chance to obtain information which could enable them to face and overcome some of the challenges they face and help them plan their future education and careers.”
Exhibitors in the Piazza of the Millennium Forum included: Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum, Chance for Change, Child Support Agency, The Cresco Trust, Derry City Council, Derry Credit Union, Derry Well Woman, EGSA, Job Assist, Jobs & Benefits Office, NI Housing Executive, Old Library Trust, Pathways, Parent Advice Centre, STEER, Training Standards Service, University of Ulster, Victim Support and Waterside Credit Union. “We’d like to take this opportunity to thank each exhibitor for supporting this event” commented Seán Ó Neill, Gingerbread NI’s Advice Manager.
The crèche facility provided was a welcome opportunity for parents to have time to relax and browse around the various stands at their leisure. They were able to take up the offer of free beauty treatments from the beautician and the children weren’t left out as a face-painter took care of their “amusement needs.”
21 March 2006
Launch of Not Alone, Western Area Centre
Gingerbread launched its latest piece of research, ‘Not Alone’, which examined the difficulties facing some groups of local lone parents in Derry City Hotel. Pictured above at the highly successful launch were (back row L-R) Teresa McDonagh, Parent; Kenny McAdams, Disability Action; Frank Rafferty, Waterside Area Partnership; Brendan McKeever, Family Information Grout (Front Row L-R), Danielle Cowan, Parent; Cllr Lynn Flemming, Mayor of Derry City and Maria Fox, Gingerbread NI. The report was the result of a year long project seeking the views of various groups, for example, lone parents with disabilities, those caring for disabled children, lone fathers, young lone parents as well as those from minority ethnic communities.
Mayor Cllr Lynn Flemming commented on the success of the project and the report’s launch saying how ‘Not Alone’ revealed many lone parents felt isolated and that their voices were not being heard.
Gingerbread’s Western Regional Manager, Maria Fox, went on to explain: “The Not Alone Project involved Gingerbread working with individuals, groups and support organisations to reach out to one parent families that experience additional pressures or prejudices. These are some of society’s most vulnerable groups. You are, for example, three times more likely to be a lone parent if you are caring for a disabled child due to the strain on relationships and research commissioned by Gingerbread shows that lone parents themselves are more likely to experience a range of health problems, particularly those associated with stress and poverty.”
The report concluded with a series of recommendations for service planners and policy makers at all levels and encouraged the development of partnership approaches to meet the needs identified.
The report may be viewed in our publications section or click through on “Not Alone” to download the pdf document. For further information please telephone Maria Fox at the Western Area Centre on 028 7137 7066.
   
2 March 2006
Northern Area Information Day
The Northern Area Centre was delighted with the positive response to their first
Regional Network Event, which was held on Thursday 2nd March at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena.
The fun-filled information day began at 11am and lasted right through until 3pm with a light lunch served to help
sustain all who attended or were involved in the day.
Attendees found they had the chance to speak directly with
representatives from the Housing
Executive, the Social Security Agency, Education/Training Providers, Community and Voluntary groups in the Northern Board area. A highlight for many was the free beauty treatments which were on offer and the children weren’t bored
either as ‘Captain Franko’ was there all day entertaining them.
Speaking to Gladys, Janine told her: “I had a great time in the Seven Towers Centre. While my son was being entertained I got to speak to Claire (Ussher) about taking a course through Gingerbread’s Choices Project and then was able to
enjoy a bit of pampering for me before picking up James. It was a great idea, thanks.”
If you were there, we hope you enjoyed your day too and maybe see you again next time?
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