Gingerbread groups come in all shapes and sizes – from local groups who meet in person, to digital groups chatting online. And we’re working in partnership with other organisations too, so that single parents can join a group at work. Here’s our round-up of what’s been going on, and how you can get involved. 

Local group news 

We now have an amazing 64 local groups across the country. A number of groups have opened over the past 3 months: so hello and a warm Gingerbread welcome to Barnet, Beckenham and Penge, Chichester and Bognor Regis, Aylesham, Newton Abbot, Clevedon, Wickford, Jarrow, Newcastle, Sedgefield, North Tyneside and Shipley! 

Sadly, we’ve also closed 5 groups in areas where it was time for volunteers to step down, in Slough, Crowborough, Flintshire, Ware and Chippenham.  Thank you to everyone for all their hard work and best wishes for the future.  

Spotlight on: Elmbridge 

It’s been a busy couple of months for Elmbridge group lead Katie!  Alongside running her Gingerbread group, she’s organised a ‘solo parent by choice’ (donor conception) meet-up at Hampton Court Palace. It was a huge success with nearly 20 people attending, even though the weather was foul!   

Katie’s also secured a space in a church on a monthly basis, and she’s using the Gingerbread £50 budget to provide teas/coffees and crafting materials. 5 single parents attended the first session and they painted hedgehogs and did some leaf printing. 

Spotlight on: Colchester 

Colchester group is another great example of the support single parents can give each other.  There are approximately 22 group members, and 10 of them meet once a month in a park or café.  There’s also a smaller group of 5 who manage to get together twice a month for a gathering without children.  Group lead Lucy says it’s a really supportive group. As well as running the group herself, she’s made some good friends and gets as much out of it as the others do.  

Our local Gingerbread groups provide vital connections, but some single parents like to connect with people who face the same, additional, challenges. That’s where our digital groups come in. We’ve got an online group for single dads, for single parents of children with additional needs, and a wellbeing group. They’ve recently moved to our new platform, but are still holding meet-ups.  

Single parents often feel like they have to leave their identity at the door when they come to work – but it doesn’t have to be that way. We’re working with third party organisations who want to set up and run a single-parent group in their workplace.   And we’re ‘practising what we preach’.  Staff at Gingerbread have set up their own single-parent group, having a monthly lunchtime catch-up online!  

Welcome to our existing and new delivery partners who have set up single-parent groups in their place of work: 

• Newcastle University 
• Gateshead Family Hub 
• Oundle Library 
• St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School 
• The Coop 
• Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust 
• Domestic & General 
• Stagecoach 
• London School of Science and Technology 
• Nottingham Trent University 

 Spotlight on: Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust:   

This Northamptonshire charity contacted Gingerbread after a community consultation highlighted the need for a single-parent group.  We put them in touch with our wonderful group lead Louise. They’re now holding successful monthly meet-ups at the Abbey with refreshments and art supplies provided. 

 If you work for an organisation that might be interested in running a single-parent group, we’d love to hear from you. 

‘My group has given me the opportunity to meet other people who have been through similar things, and I have made friends for life. I feel stronger because of them. ‘ 

 Did you know?  

There are over 3,400 Gingerbread group members. And 75% say that they’ve made positive connections with other single parents through their Gingerbread group.  Why not find out if there’s a group near you today?