Gingerbread, the national charity for single parents, is delighted to announce that Skipton Building Society is one of the first organisations to take part in the pilot of its brand-new Accreditation Scheme.

The scheme has been designed to recognise and support employers who are committed to creating inclusive, supportive, and flexible workplaces for single parents.

Single parents make up nearly one in four families in the UK, yet they often face significant barriers in the workplace from lack of flexible working options, limited career progression to stigma and a lack of understanding from employers. These challenges contribute to higher rates of in-work poverty, stress, and social isolation among single parent households.

Through the pilot, Gingerbread will work with Skipton Building Society and other employers to identify and break down these barriers, while also capturing examples of best practice. This includes measures such as:

·       Offering truly flexible and predictable working patterns.

·       Normalising family-friendly policies and removing stigma around their use.

·       Training managers to understand the specific challenges single parents face.

·       Creating career progression pathways that do not penalise those with caring responsibilities.

By sharing learning from the pilot, Gingerbread aims to provide a roadmap for other employers to follow helping organisations benefit from the talent, resilience, and dedication that single parents bring to the workforce.

Lisa Pearce, CEO of Gingerbread, said:

“We are thrilled to have Skipton Building Society involved in this pilot. Too often, single parents are overlooked or face unnecessary obstacles at work. By joining the pilot, Skipton is showing leadership and commitment to building a more inclusive and supportive workplace. Together, we can create lasting change that benefits families, employers, and society.”

Shagufta Sharif, Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing at Skipton Building Society, said:

“We are proud to be part of Gingerbread’s pilot accreditation scheme. Supporting single parents in our workforce is incredibly important, and this pilot gives us the opportunity to learn, improve, and be recognised for that commitment.”

The pilot will run through late 2025, with the full accreditation scheme launching in 2026.

For more information about Gingerbread and its accreditation scheme, please visit our website.

For media enquiries, please contact media@gingerbread.org.uk.

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• Gingerbread is the leading charity supporting single parent families in England and Wales.
• The charity provides information, practical support and campaigns to improve the lives of single parents.

For more information, visit www.gingerbread.org.uk