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Working Neighbourhoods Fund - Lone Parents
This project is aimed at single parents and one of the key factors for success includes identifying and meeting real needs through community and voluntary sector partnership working.
One very strong barrier to learning which, unfortunately, is quite common in Hyndburn is a culture which does not value learning amongst hard to reach groups and long-term unemployed. This project encourages single parents to get involved in local, informal training sessions with people in similar circumstances.
This project helps to reduce barriers to learning and work for lone parents. Many lone parents are ‘just about managing’ their lives and are not ready for training or employment and this project is aimed at developing skills at the pre-training level.
Through this project the Network is helping single parents to tackle issues that affect their daily lives and to develop a higher level of personal organisation and drive. The Network provides support and guidance to promote effective participation, enhance individual confidence, raise aspirations and help single parents achieve their full potential.
The activities rely heavily on the spoken word rather than the written word although progress and issues covered are documented and evidenced and some certificated activities are taking place.
The sessions create an environment of awareness where lone parents can share their problems and needs and help each other to recognise and solve problems and breakdown the barriers they are experiencing in their quality of life and in preparing for work and training.
Lone parents are encouraged to find out how services in Hyndburn affect them, what help and support is available and how they can best tackle issues individually or as a group and through this process life skills are being developed.
The project sessions are delivered locally to avoid the need for lone parents to travel. The project is delivered through increasing social activity and involves communication and interaction between single parents. The sessions are held in the community at neighbourhood level in community centres, church halls and other places of worship, in residential community centres, neighbourhood offices and other locations as appropriate to the group.
A FREE crèche is provided for children under school age to allow parents some time for themselves to explore their own development and aspirations.
There is a flexible approach to the sessions with the lone parents helping to develop ideas for future sessions. The activities in the project are related to lives and aspirations so that lone parents do not lose the motivation to attend sessions. The project involves small groups as an overlarge group can make it difficult for some parents to engage.
The sessions take the form of meetings, events and workshops and enable lone parents to engage with main stream service providers and the voluntary sector so they can get high-quality support services which are appropriate for them and to give them access to information, advice and guidance from an experienced team to help them improve their lifestyles.
Contact the Network on (01254) 232426 or email info@hyndburncommunitynetwork.org.uk
Lone Parents in Hyndburn is also registered on Facebook if you would like to chat with other lone parents or find out more information.
You will need to log in with Facebook before you access the site which is free. Please follow the link to the login site.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=110926755613098
