Gingerbread CEO, Abigail Wood, reflects on the journey Gingerbread has been on over the last 18 months.

“When I joined Gingerbread in November 2025, it was clear the organisation had been through a tough year. Earlier in the year, the charity had taken the difficult decision to close the helpline and to significantly reduce the size of the staff team. You could still feel the impact of those decisions both inside the organisation and in the wider community.

The helpline meant a lot to single parents. For many, it was somewhere to turn when things felt difficult or confusing, not just for information but for reassurance too. Closing it wasn’t something the organisation did lightly. But it was part of a set of hard decisions that were needed to keep Gingerbread going and be able to continue its work in the longer term.

Community and wellbeing

Our network of groups continues to evolve and grow. There are now more than 40 single parent-led groups and 11 delivery partners across England and Wales. That sense of community really matters. Most people who take part tell us they feel more connected as a result.

This year we’ve also spent more time thinking about wellbeing and connection. We’ve run wellbeing sessions with external facilitators, with more than 170 single parents taking part. The feedback has been encouraging: single parents value having space to talk and reflect, especially with others who understand.

We’ve been able to offer families some shared experiences through partnerships with organisations like the National Trust and Little Lion Entertainment. Those moments might seem small, but they’re not, they matter.

Keeping the pressure on for systems change

Alongside that, the need for change at a system level hasn’t gone anywhere.

We’ve continued to work with policymakers on issues like the Child Maintenance Service and Universal Credit where small changes can make a big difference day to day. A lot of what single parents are dealing with isn’t new, and that’s part of the problem. The barriers and stigma haven’t shifted enough, and there’s still a huge amount we need to change.

Where we’ve got to

Gingerbread is now in a stronger financial position than it was a year ago. This is the result a lot of hard work, and some difficult choices along the way. I’m hugely grateful to the team down to the team who’ve carried on through a challenging period, and to the support of our funders and partners who’ve stuck with us.

I’m aware that there’s still a sense of loss around the helpline. But the organisation is more stable now, and in a strong position to continue our work of supporting single parents both now and in the future.”