Single parents need partnership approach, not threats of sanctions

Commenting on today’s White Paper on welfare reform, Fiona Weir, Chief Executive of Gingerbread said:

“More than half of single parents already work and the proportion increases as children get older but the difficulty for single parents is balancing their work ambitions with being there for their children.  Meeting young childrens’needs while fulfilling workplace responsibilities can be particularly difficult.

“By all means encourage single parents to start thinking about preparing for returning to work when they can juggle a job with bringing up children single-handedly but benefit cuts and extra Jobcentre hurdles will not equip them with the skills and confidence to go forward.

“We want to see an approach which collaborates with single parents and builds on their own aspirations to achieve their best as parents and as would-be employees.  Giving further sanctioning powers to jobcentre officials will not create the partnership approach that single parents need from advisers.”

Notes to Editors:

Further information from Jane Ahrends on 020 7428 5416