2007
Equality of opportunity- creating positive change through partnership
Executive Summary
This Report and Executive Summary is a comprehensive study of the challenges facing lone parents in Northern Ireland, when making the transition into employment.
The report was produced by the ‘Possibilities’ Partnership, which includes Gingerbread NI, the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), the University of Ulster (UU) and employment matching service, Gems NI. The 'Possibilities' partners set out to pool their resources and expertise to positively influence policy and practice regarding lone parents and employment in Northern Ireland.
2006
This paper presents the findings to date on the views of lone parents about childcare and the relationship between childcare and employment. It is the first in a series of occasional papers based on the research findings.
Not Alone - recognising and responding to the diversity of lone parents in the North West
This report is the outcome of a year long project which sought the views of various groups: lone parents with disabilities, those caring for disabled children, lone fathers, young lone parents as well as those from minority ethnic communities.
‘Not Alone’ revealed that many of these lone parents felt isolated and their voices were not being heard. While all lone parents experience common pressures, there are additional difficulties facing certain groups which need to be recognised and addressed.
2005
This research was carried out in 2004 amongst 151 lone parents in the WHSSB area. The objectives were:
- To provide baseline data which would give a demographic profile of lone parents in the Board area as well as information about income, employment and living standards
- To explore their use of childcare, their perceptions of their health and well-being and that of their children
- To explore their use of and satisfaction or otherwise with services
- To gain some insight into the effects of family breakdown on children
- To inform service development to meet the needs of one parent families more effectively
- To identify gaps in and promote a co-ordinated approach to service provision
From Strength to Strength - the experiences of young people growing up in one-parent families" University of Ulster, November 2003
This research was carried out by researchers from the University of Ulster to elicit the views of young people between the ages of 13 and 18 living in one-parent families. The views of lone parents of teenagers were also taken into account.
The following areas were examined with core findings presented in the final document:
- Relationships between Teenagers and Parents
- Financial Circumstances
- School & Education
- Support Services
- Best and Worst Things
- Making Things Better
1998
In light of the government strategies around employment and social welfare at this time, Gingerbread thought it timely to look at some of the issues facing lone parents in their pursuit of 'paid work outside the home'.
Aim of the research:
- To provide data on the outcomes for lone parents participating in Gingerbread NI's Employment Linked Training Programme, in order to allow for some evaluation of an established training programme for lone parents;
- To improve our understanding of the obstacles that lone parents face both when looking for a job and when working.
Please note:
This document is only available in hard copy. If you would like a copy, please contact Central Office on 028 9023 1417 or email us.
This study of young lone mothers in two areas, one urban and one rural, was carried out by Gingerbread NI and funded through Children in Need. It was completed with the participation of 163 lone mothers under the age of 25 (139 in Belfast and 24 in Newry & Mourne). The overall aim was to improve the lives of young lone parents by ensuring the provision of services, which meet their needs.
Specific aims were:
- To increase the level of knowledge about young lone parents;
- To improve our understanding of the services currently available to young lone parents;
- To increase our understanding of what young lone parents need and want from services;
- To improve the services offered to young lone parents by both Gingerbread NI and other voluntary organisations and statutory organisations.
The objectives were:
- To review the literature already available on young lone parents
- To create a map of the distribution and concentration of lone parents in NI
- To provide an opportunity for young lone parents to tell us about their current situation and experiences of services
- To provide an opportunity for young lone parents to tell us their needs and future service requirements
- To analyse and evaluate the information gathered and write a report
- To disseminate the report to a wide range of agencies
- To use the information gathered to plan and monitor Gingerbread's services for young lone parents
- To monitor the impact of the research on the overall provision of services for young lone parents.
This report considers the housing problems experienced by lone parents in NI. Drawing on data obtained over a three-month period between September and December 1995, it analyses the nature of the housing queries on which lone parents sought advice from caseworkers employed by Housing Rights Service and Gingerbread NI. The report examines the findings under four interrelated themes which emerged during the course of the study:
- access
- affordability
- housing conditions
- security of tenure.
It concludes that the social and economic disadvantage experienced by many lone parents significantly restricts their choice of, and access to, affordable, secure, good quality housing.
Please note:
This document is only available in hard copy. If you would like a copy, please contact Central Office on 028 9023 1417 or email us.
1996
This study of the health and social care needs of lone parents was commissioned by the Northern Health & Social Services Board, Northern Ireland, after extensive discussions with Gingerbread NI. It was completed with the participation of 190 lone parents resident in all districts of the Board area.
Specific Aims
- Providing data which could be used to inform service development to meet the needs of the lone parent population more effectively
- To identify gaps in service delivery
- To provide a basis for information sharing and more co-ordinated approach to service provision
- To offer a rationale for funding and developing new and existing services to lone parents and their children
Please note:
This document is only available in hard copy. If you would like a copy, please contact Central Office on 028 9023 1417 or email us.
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