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Advice NI are delighted to launch a new Tax & Benefits advice service in the Ballymena area. Sue Stevenson, Tax & Benefits Adviser, will be providing a drop in service on Thursdays at the offices of Gingerbread NI, at 5a Greenvale Street, Ballymena. |
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This is a new, unique Tax and Benefits Advice Service, which offers free advice and support to members of the public struggling with issues relating to tax and/or benefits. |
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| The service will help you deal with any advice and information you need in relation to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) related products and services, such as: |
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- Tax Credits
- Child Benefit
- Financial support for registered childcare
- PAYE
- Self Assessment
- National Minimum Wage
- National Insurance Contributions
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To make an appointment to see our Tax and Benefits adviser please contact our office on 028 2563 8086 |
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Alternatively our Freephone telephone helpline is available on 0800 988 2377 Monday to Friday 9am–1pm |
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| You can also email our service on tax@adviceni.net or visit our website www.adviceni.net and click on the Tax and Benefits link for further information. |
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| 11th January 2012 |
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Need Help with Childcare? |
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Gingerbread NI provides crèche facilities for pre-school aged children of lone parents in our One Plus Centre in 7 Bayview Terrace. |
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- A safe and secure environment staffed by two qualified and experienced childcare workers
- Well equipped facilities with plenty of activities and an outdoor play area
- Childcare for pre-school aged children for lone parents undertaking training
- Respite session from 10-1pm each day, lone parents can use two sessions per week at £3.00 per session
- Children ages 4 months to 5 years can use the crèche
- We are registered with Western Health and Social Care Trust
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If you are a lone parent and would like to use our crèche or would like further information ring Mary Burke – Crèche Leader Monday to Friday 9am-2pm on 028 71 377066 |
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| 11th January 2012 |
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Starting Point - Autism NI |
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| Austism NI is providing new training for parents of young children with Autism. The training focuses on practical strategies and is a super start for parents who have, or think they may have, a child with Autism.Please click on the fliers below for further details on dates and locations. |
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| 23rd December 2011 |
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Christmas Closure Times |
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Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Members, Board, Staff & Volunteers in Gingerbread. We look forward to working with you in 2012. |
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Our Offices close today, 23rd December 2011 at 1pm and reopen on Tuesday 3rd January 2012 at 9am. |
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| 23rd December 2011 |
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Gingerbread NI Annual Report 2011 |
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Welcome to Gingerbread’s 33rd Annual Report. We have just come through another particularly challenging year for families generally and lone parents in particular. The recession continues to bite hard with more and more families experiencing hardship and poverty. Unemployment levels continued to rise and there is little evidence to suggest that any improvement will occur soon. |
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| Please click on the Gingerbread NI Annual Report 2011 cover for access. |
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| 9th December 2011 |
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25,000 People in NI Get Winter Fuel Payments |
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More than 250,000 people in Northern Ireland are to get a one-off emergency winter fuel payment, the executive has said. Cancer sufferers, pensioners and unemployed people are among those who will benefit. Recipients will be determined by a 'qualifying week' in December and payments are to be issued in February.
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| The payments include: |
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- £100 to those in receipt of Pension Credit
- £100 for those receiving cancer treatment
- £75 to those in receipt of Income Support
- £75 to those in receipt of Employment Support Allowance income related
- £75 to those in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance income based
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| 11th November 2011 |
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Family Appeal |
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The St Vincent de Paul / Salvation Army Family Appeal helps families out at Christmas time by providing gifts and toys for children, easing the financial burden felt at this time of year. |
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If you think that you might need help this Christmas please get in touch with Gingerbread’s Advice Service. You can call the Freephone Advice Helpline on 0808 808 8090, speak to an Advisor and leave your name, address and telephone number. You do not have to be on benefits to apply, but must be facing financial hardship. |
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We will send you a form to sign, then need it returned to us to process. This must reach us by Wednesday the 7th of December at the latest, so ring or drop into one of our offices as soon as possible. |
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| 18th October 2011 |
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Gingerbread NI Annual General Meeting 2011 |
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Gingerbread NI’s 2011 Annual General Meeting will be held on the Friday the 18th November, at 10.30am, in The Grosvenor Hall, Glengall Street, Belfast. |
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The Annual General Meeting presents an opportunity for all members of the organisation to have a say in how Gingerbread develops, so we encourage as large an attendance as possible. |
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The AGM will be followed by Gingerbread’s Trainee Awards Ceremony, which celebrates the achievements of those who have taken part in training programmes throughout the year. We will end the Trainee Award Ceremony with lunch. |
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| 11th October 2011 |
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Thinking About Borrowing Money? |
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When thinking about borrowing money it’s important to consider where you can borrow from. Produced by the Consumer Council in association with Gingerbread NI, this booklet outlines the options, and analyses the pros and cons of each. In addition, there are some useful figures to help you compare different sources of credit and decide what suits your needs best. |
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| Click on the cover to access the booklet, or alternatively, click here |
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| 29th September 2011 |
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Childcare Costs Survey |
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Families in Northern Ireland pay £16,000 a year on childcare. Does it pay to work?
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| Local Charity Employers For Childcare Charitable Group launched their 2011 Childcare Costs Survey at Stormont. The findings paint a challenging picture for families within the region, with the high cost of childcare impacting on family budgets and forcing many parents into reducing their working hours or leaving the work place altogether. |
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With childcare costs amounting to just over £16,000 for a household with two children, the average family here allocating 90% of their salary towards childcare. Nearly 2,500 parents participated in the survey, with just under half stating that the cost of childcare has influenced the number of hours they work. |
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At a time when the Government is trying to encourage more people back into the workplace, the annual childcare bill for many parents across the region raises an important and challenging question: Does it pay to work? |
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| 8th September 2011 |
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Supermom |
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Are you a lone parent? Are you interested in learning about filmmaking and working in a team to make a short film? This free 10 week course is open to lone parents who are not currently in paid employment, and starts on Monday 17th October. |
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| For further information on the Supermom Film Course click here |
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| If you're interested contact whitney@gingerbreadni.org or call 028 9023 1417 |
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| 7th September 2011 |
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Lipstick & Money |
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Possibilities NI (Gingerbread’s social enterprise) is delighted to announce that we can now offer you, in partnership with East Belfast Enterprises, the very successful Lipstick & Money programme. This exciting programme aims to help women to build their confidence, gain a qualification, and make some extra money. |
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| The course starts on Thursday 6th October in Gingerbread’s premises at 169 University Street, Belfast. It is free of charge and help is available towards childcare and travel costs. |
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| For further information on Lipstick & Money please click here |
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If you're interested please contact orla@gingerbreadni.org or avril@gingerbreadni.org or call 028 9023 1417
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| 30th August 2011 |
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2011 AGM Notification |
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Gingerbread NI's Annual General Meeting will be held on: |
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| Friday 18th November at 10.30am in: |
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The Grosvenor Hall,
Glengall Street,
Belfast,
BT12 5AB |
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| to adopt the audited accounts and annual report for the year end 31 March 2011; to elect the Board of Directors; to appoint auditors, and deal with any other business which the meeting is competent to transact. |
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Marie Cavanagh |
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Company Secretary |
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| 29th August 2011 |
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Gingerbread Times Summer 2011 |
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In this issue: |
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- Tessa Forthergill visits Belfast
- Training - Marks & Starts/ Supermom/ Restart
- Advice Questions Answered
- Childcare Costs
- Parents' Week
- Summer Safety
- Gingerbread NI AGM
- Problems with Debt?
- Family Breaks
- Fun things for the Family
- Recipe
- Puzzles
- and more…
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| 28th July 2011 |
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Consumer Advice Handbook |
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The Consumer Council recently launched an updated Consumer Advice Handbook (A-Z). This provides a comprehensive guide on everyday consumer issues; consumer law, and where to go for advice and redress. To access the Consumer Advice Handbook (A-Z), please click on the following link: |
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| http://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/publications/?id=731 |
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25th July 2011 |
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Supermom Update |
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Gingerbread NI is launching Supermom, an exciting new project which will bring together a group of lone parents for basic film skills training in everything from writing a script to operating a camera. Some of the group may opt to appear front of camera using their acting skills, and there will be opportunities for helping with hair and make up on set as well. No experience is necessary just an enthusiastic approach and a willingness to take up a new challenge! |
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| If you are a lone parent, or you work with lone parents who may be interested in getting involved with Supermom, please contact Whitney at 028 9023 1417 to learn more about what the project has to offer. You can also read our newsletter, above, to find out about the international project. And if you wish to follow us on Facebook to get updated on developments in the programme as they happen, please click here |
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| 17th June 2011 |
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Welfare Cuts Research |
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Advice NI is very concerned about the impact of welfare cuts on vulnerable, low income households. |
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| In the current recession, even more people have become reliant on the social security system. Advice NI is keen to assess their everyday experiences of a system which has been subjected to very significant cuts. |
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| In order to try and give low income households a voice, Advice NI has developed an online survey aimed at people reliant upon the social security system; including needing help with their mortgage or rent; help with childcare costs; help because they are sick or disabled; or generally finding it difficult to pay bills and make ends meet. |
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| All of the information collected will be kept in the strictest confidence and used for research purposes only. A report will be produced with the aim of raising awareness of the impact of the welfare cuts on people in Northern Ireland. |
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| 16th June 2011 |
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Childcare Costs Survey |
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Last year Employers for Childcare carried out the first ever Childcare Costs Survey for the region. Over 1000 parents responded. The results were collated into a report and presented to Government Ministers at Stormont, highlighting the need to invest more in childcare services for families in Northern Ireland. They're hoping for an even bigger response this year, to add weight to the message that the Government needs to invest more on childcare. |
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| Those who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 Tesco voucher. To access the survey please click the link below. |
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| 3rd June 2011 |
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Marks and Start June 2011 Training Programme |
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Are you a Lone Parent? Do you want to return to work? Would a package of work preparation training followed by two-weeks' work experience with Marks and Spencer help you to reach that goal? For training programmes running this year in the months of June & September please contact: |
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| 24th May 2011 |
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Fathers' Fun Day |
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Colin Neighbourhood Partnership is holding a Fathers Fun Day on Saturday 18th June at Cloona House in Poleglass. This free event is for all the family and will feature bouncy castles, face painting, music, BBQ and much more. The centrepiece of the festivities will be the announcement of the "Main Man Award" winner, an award which acknowldeges and celebrates the important part men play in the community. |
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For more information on Fathers Fun Day and to download Main Man Award nomination forms please click here |
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| 4th May 2011 |
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Gingerbread Times Spring 2011 |
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- Eileen’s Story
- Childcare Voucher Users - 2011 Changes
- Advice, Your Questions Answered
- Return to Work
- Marks and Start
- Choices Plus
- IT/Computer Training
- OCR Certificate in Mentoring
- Fun Things for the Family
- Update on Possibilities NI Transnational Projects
- Recipes
- Puzzles
- and more…
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| 1st April 2011 |
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Supermom Launch |
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Lone parent support charity, Gingerbread, is launching Supermom, an exciting new project which will bring together a group of lone parents for basic film skills training in everything from writing a script to operating a camera. Some of the group may opt to appear front of camera using their acting skills and there will be opportunities for helping with hair and make up on set as well. No experience is necessary just an enthusiastic approach and a willingness to take up a new challenge! |
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| Once the training is complete, the group will make a short film to tell their story. This is a European project so lone parents from Germany, Italy, France and Poland will also take part in the project in their own countries. |
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| If you are a lone parent, or you work with lone parents who may be interested in getting involved with Supermom, join us at the launch to hear more about what the project has to offer. |
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Gingerbread invites you to the launch of Supermom, on 12th April 2011 in the Crescent Arts Centre, Lower Crescent, Belfast.
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| 11th March 2011 |
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Parenting Support Session |
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We are holding a Parenting Support Session on Tuesday 29th March in our Central Office at 169 University Street, Belfast. The four main areas we will focus on during this session are: |
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How to budget and make your money go further
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How to deal with debt
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How to plan ahead for major life changes such as parenthood
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Who to turn to for help if things go wrong
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| If you're interested in attending please leave your name and contact details. Places are limited and will be given on a first come first served basis. |
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Parenting Support Session
‘MoneySense’
29th March 2011
11am – 1pm
Lunch will be provided |
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Email: enquiries@gingerbreadni.org
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4th March 2011 |
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Marks and Start March 2011 Training Programme |
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Are you a Lone Parent? Do you want to return to work? Would a package of work preparation training followed by two-weeks' work experience with Marks and Spencer help you to reach that goal? For training programmes running this year in the months of March, June & September, please conact |
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| orla@gingerbreadni.org or call 028 9023 1417 |
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| 10th February |
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Maternity Grant Cuts |
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| The government has decided to press ahead with its plans to limit payment of the Sure Start Maternity Grant to families where a new baby is the only child under sixteen in the household. |
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| The Law Centre and Gingerbread NI argued that cutting the grant would cause real hardship for families and flies in the face of the government's commitment to end child poverty. |
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| To find out more log on to: |
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| 27th January |
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Family Mediation NI |
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Family Mediation offers an alternative to conflict when families experience difficulties during separation or divorce and helps reduce the trauma of separation. Family life today can be stressful, demanding and complex. Maintaining good relationships between parents and children during and after separation is crucial to our well being and happiness. |
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| For further information and contact details just click on the cover |
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| 12th January 2011 |
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Gingerbread NI Annual Report 2010 |
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Welcome to Gingerbread’s 32nd Annual Report. This year has been particularly challenging for families generally and lone parents in particular. The recession continues to bite hard with more and more families experiencing hardship and poverty.... |
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| To read on click here |
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| 5th January 2011 |
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Gingerbread Times Winter 2010 |
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In this Issue: |
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- AGM and Awards
- Ceremony
- Questions and Answers
- Training
- Women in Business
- Financial Information
- Santa Letter Appeal
- Child Maintenance
- Forum
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