Gingerbread are asking the government to #SupportNotPunish people on Universal Credit (UC). Will you add your voice to our campaign?

Single-parent families are often hardest hit by the confusing and hostile nature of Universal Credit, and the sanctions built into the system. So we’re taking the voices and stories of single parents to Parliament, to share them with MPs.

Have your say

If you’re a single parent who has struggled with any aspect of the UC system, we want to hear from you. We’re asking single parents to send us their experiences as WhatsApp voice notes. We’ll share these messages with MPs at an event in Parliament, and feature them on our website, social media and emails during our Week of Action. Together we can build a powerful movement calling for change.

Gingerbread’s Support Not Punish campaign

Last year, Gingerbread published ‘They are punishing the children’ – a report into Universal Credit, funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales. The 5 key themes identified in the report were:

1. The amount of money available through Universal Credit (UC) is not enough
2. ⁠The system is confusing and hostile
3. There are specific risks of being sanctioned for single parents
4.  The financial and mental health impact on single parents
5. ⁠Improving work coach roles could help more single parents move into employment.

Can you share your story?

We want to hear from any single parents about their experiences of the UC system relating to these 5 key themes – or anything else you’ve found challenging about claiming Universal Credit.

It’s vital that MPs and ministers hear directly from single parents. Your voice can help them understand the injustices of the system and make the changes that single-parent families urgently need.

How to share your story:

Sharing your story is quick and simple. We’ll make sure it won’t take up too much of your time and that you feel comfortable throughout the process.

Step 1: Decide what to tell us about

You may have an experience of Universal Credit that relates directly to one of our 5 themes above. Or you might want to tell us more generally about the challenges of being on UC, the process of applying and following the conditionality rules. Feel free to include specific examples of the challenges you’ve faced. The more personal and detailed your story, the stronger your impact.

Step 2: Get in touch.

Let us know you’re interested by completing this simple form.

Step 3: We’ll have a chat

Next, a member of the Gingerbread team will get in touch with you directly. We’ll answer your questions and talk you through a simple guide to sharing your story. We’ll make sure that you’re fully comfortable and informed about what you’re consenting to. You can remain anonymous and choose to share your story only with MPs at the event, or also have it featured on our website, emails, and social media – it’s totally up to you.

Step 4: Record your story

You’ll share your story with us as a quick voice note on WhatsApp. You could even do this on the go!

Step 5: Become part of the change!

Your story will then be shared with MPs at our Parliament event, and with the wider public (if you choose). And you’ll be part of a movement that’s creating a better world for single parents, pushing for a fairer Universal Credit system for all.

Deadline to share your story: 22nd June