
Becoming a working single parent is no easy task. Lone parents voiced their experiences of balancing work and children to Assembly Members, as Swansea-based lone parent Victoria Morgan-Beattie presented a one parent proofing toolkit to an Assembly launch.
Dr SUSY GIULLARI of Single Parent Action Network explained that many single parents in Wales want to work: “Wales has the highest number of lone parents in Britain who lack but want work (20%)* and this figure is rising. It is clear that policies need to be one parent proofed to meet the needs, views and priorities of parents in Wales so that more can sustain employment.”
Lone parent VICTORIA MORGAN BEATTIE says one parent proofing could help her into employment:
“Like so many single parents I would like to fulfil my ambitions. Having a good job would mean I would have less stress about wondering if the school uniform will last until the end of term, not having to say no to my kids when they have out-of-school activities and being a role model of a working parent.”
Welsh Assembly Members at the launch showed their commitment to improving the life chances of single parents across Wales.
Launch sponsor JOYCE WATSON AM said: “This toolkit will give useful guidance to employers to remove some of the barriers which face single parents. It will enable them to tap into this vast pool of talented Welsh people who want work but can’t access it.”
Minister for Children, Education Lifelong Learning and Skills JANE HUTT AM welcomed the report, saying: “The findings and toolkit will ensure that service providers and employers are encouraged to assess their current and future practices to improve access for single parents and their children.
“Many single parents find themselves in a poverty trap between benefits and employment, impacting upon their children. We know that children in living in families where no-one works have a 58% risk of living in poverty. Tackling child poverty is a priority for this Assembly government and we will use all the levers available to us to reach the challenging child poverty targets we have set ourselves.”
Ms Hutt set out a wide range of Welsh Assembly Government actions to tackle these issues, including:
- The Parenting Action Plan, developing support and information to all parents in Wales, from early years provision to teenage years, particularly through the Cymorth programme
- Affordable childcare initiatives such as Genesis Wales, Flying Start and campaigns on workforce recruitment
- Child poverty commitments including a top up to the Child Trust Fund, an expert advisory group and use of new legislation
- Work with DWP and Jobcentre Plus on programmes such as New Deal for Lone Parents and the Want2Work project
Chair of the Equality of Opportunity Committee ANN JONES AM pledged to circulate the document.
The Proofed for Parents by Parents toolkit suggests policy changes such as increased funding to cover fees and childcare costs for further and higher education courses, and for atypical hours and emergencies that would help parents move forward into employment. Paid leave for children’s sickness and retaining benefits such as free school meals could support parents in work.