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In our new report on responding to the COVID-19 crisis and its impacts on single parent families, we've broken down what parents have been telling us into 12 key themes.
These have shaped what we are asking the UK and Scottish Governments to do to help: https://opfs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Response_to_COVID-19_OPFS.pdf
These have shaped what we are asking the UK and Scottish Governments to do to help: https://opfs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Response_to_COVID-19_OPFS.pdf
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1. Benefits: Stress and financial uncertainty linked to social security is a key issue for single parents we're hearing from.
Job search obligations, sanctions and difficulties accessing Universal Credit are all major concerns.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
1. Benefits: Stress and financial uncertainty linked to social security is a key issue for single parents we're hearing from.
Job search obligations, sanctions and difficulties accessing Universal Credit are all major concerns.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
2. Employment rights: Many single parents have told us they are concerned about their employment under increasingly challenging circumstances - from balancing work with children's needs at home, to fears over having to go back to work without childcare.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
3. Money worries and poverty:
We've also heard from record numbers of single parents who are worried about debt, housing costs and paying for essentials for their family.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
We've also heard from record numbers of single parents who are worried about debt, housing costs and paying for essentials for their family.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
4. Children - sole caring responsibilities:
The challenges for single parents around being their children's sole carer have been intensified, with many parents struggling to juggle everything alone and worrying about what will happen if they become ill:
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
The challenges for single parents around being their children's sole carer have been intensified, with many parents struggling to juggle everything alone and worrying about what will happen if they become ill:
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
5. Loneliness, isolation and essential services.
One of the greatest challenges for single parents during this crisis has been the increased isolation that has come with being unable to spend time with and get support from other adults face-to-face.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
One of the greatest challenges for single parents during this crisis has been the increased isolation that has come with being unable to spend time with and get support from other adults face-to-face.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
6. Information about COVID-19
Many parents have been in touch to ask for advice around COVID-19 and the guidelines, and have told us they feel overwhelmed by information and unclear on the facts.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
Many parents have been in touch to ask for advice around COVID-19 and the guidelines, and have told us they feel overwhelmed by information and unclear on the facts.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
7. Stress, anxiety and mental health
A major issue for single parents in the face of the COVID-19 crisis is mental health. Many parents are anxious about the future, finding it hard to cope alone, and have lost support systems due to social distancing.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
A major issue for single parents in the face of the COVID-19 crisis is mental health. Many parents are anxious about the future, finding it hard to cope alone, and have lost support systems due to social distancing.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
8. Access to food
A worrying number of single parents who have been in touch with us during the COVID-19 crisis are concerned about being able to afford food - between a loss in income, rising household costs and lack of availability of cheaper brands.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
A worrying number of single parents who have been in touch with us during the COVID-19 crisis are concerned about being able to afford food - between a loss in income, rising household costs and lack of availability of cheaper brands.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
9. Access to healthcare
Single parents we work with have raised concerns about their ability to access essential support and medication for themselves and their family during the COVID-19 crisis. Barriers to access are contributing to increased anxiety.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
Single parents we work with have raised concerns about their ability to access essential support and medication for themselves and their family during the COVID-19 crisis. Barriers to access are contributing to increased anxiety.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
10. Child Contact and Child Maintenance
We’ve heard from single parents who are worried about child contact during lockdown.
And many have said they are not receiving child maintenance from their child’s other parent and are financially struggling.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
We’ve heard from single parents who are worried about child contact during lockdown.
And many have said they are not receiving child maintenance from their child’s other parent and are financially struggling.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
11. Digital exclusion
For the many single parents with school-aged children, digital exclusion has become a more urgent issue as children need to access schoolwork online.
Most parents we work with do not have laptops, PCs or contract phones.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
For the many single parents with school-aged children, digital exclusion has become a more urgent issue as children need to access schoolwork online.
Most parents we work with do not have laptops, PCs or contract phones.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
12. Strain on family relationships
Parents in contact with us highlighted strain on family relationships early into lockdown. A change in children’s routine and inability to get out is leading to arguments - particularly challenging for single parents.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
Parents in contact with us highlighted strain on family relationships early into lockdown. A change in children’s routine and inability to get out is leading to arguments - particularly challenging for single parents.
https://opfs.org.uk/who-we-are/response-to-covid-19/
