Mission Statement

Gingerbread is Northern Ireland's only lone parent led organisation working to secure and protect equality and social inclusion for one parent families.

Gingerbread NI's Values & Principles

• Gingerbread is an independent, not for profit, membership organisation
• Gingerbread is an organisation promoting indiviual and collective empowerment
• Gingerbread operates on a Northern Ireland wide basis to represent and be accessible to all lone parents
• Gingerbread respects and reflects the diversity of one parent families and recognises the need for their equality of treatment

Gingerbread NI's Aims

• To represent one parent families in Northern Ireland and enhance understanding of their needs and aspirations
• To identify the needs of one parent families and develop appropriate responses
• To influence policy makers and service providers to respond appropriately to the needs of one parent families

How Gingerbread was founded

A restaurant called 'The Golden Age of Gingerbread' was located in the Nottinghill areas of London in which Tess was putting up her initial posters about a group for lone parents. When she saw the name "Gingerbread" she thought it would make a good name:-

'Ginger' for gingering up support or getting help from the authorities

'Bread' the money and resources one-parent families need to support themselves and each other.

How did we start?
In the late 1970s lone parents from the Suffolk area of Belfast and also from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, met in order to form a support network. The groups considered a number of options for their embryonic organisation. After looking at a number of groups working with lone parents they agreed the ethos of Gingerbread England largely mirrored what they wanted to achieve. As a result the two groups decided to form a sister network in Northern Ireland and adopted and adapted many of Gingerbread's aims and objectives resulting in Gingerbread NI.

Our development
The first office was opened above Ballynafeigh Community House, 291 Ormeau Road, Belfast in 1978. The office had two rooms accommodating just two members of staff and a number of volunteers. Over the next few years, Gingerbread developed rapidly. The need for a lone parent organisation was apparent from the outset consequently, in 1982 new, larger premises were required and these were found at 171 University Street. This site served as Gingerbread's Central Office for the following six years.

The demand for Gingerbread's services determined the organisation's rapid growth during the early stages. The commitment, voluntary effort and active participation of its membership gave the organisation dynamism and acted as a catalyst for its development and consequent growth.

Over the next few years Gingerbread developed a range of services to help meet the needs of lone parents. These included advice and training as well as support groups. The growing number of staff, together with the increased services, meant Gingerbread outgrew its accommodation at 171 and in the late 1980s purchased the large Victorian house next door, 169 University St. The building was considerably larger but required extensive renovation and refurbishment. Once completed, Gingerbread moved into the site in 1989, which remains the organisation's Central Office.

Western Area Centre

Established in 1996, the office is located at 7 Bayview Terrace, Derry and offers a number of services to lone parents living in the Western Health & Social Services Board Area:

Advice
This service offers free, impartial advice on a variety of issues affecting lone parents.

A Freephone Advice Helpline is available:

Whilst a drop-in service at the Western Area Centre operates:

Wednesday: 2pm - 4pm

Thursday: 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Friday: 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Further advice information may be seen by linking to the advice pages.

IT / Computer Training
A variety of computer training courses are available free of charge in the Western Area Centre.

Further IT/ Computer Training information in the Western Area Centre may be see by linking to the training pages.

Crèche

Further crèche information in the Western Area Centre may be see by linking to the childcare pages.

Northern Area Centre

Established in 1999 the Northern Area Centre is located at 5a Greenvale Street, Ballymena and offers a number of services to lone parents living in the Northern Health & Social Services Board Area.