New deal for lone parents

WITH pushchairs and tiny tots in tow, Southampton's lone parents came in their hundreds to find out more about getting back to work.

The special event at Southampton Guildhall featured training providers, family-friendly employers and advice agencies wanting to help mums and dads get out of the benefit trap.

Southampton has 7,500 unemployed lone parents and each had been sent an invitation to the Time For a Change event organised by New Deal for Lone Parents.

Andrea Torode, Senior Delivery Manager, said: "We are very pleased with the number of people we have had through so far and expect about 1,000 visitors throughout the day.

"It is the first time we have ever staged an event like this in Southampton and the feedback so far has been very positive."

Single mum Hannah McColl, 28, from Netley was at the Guildhall with her two and a half year old son Kai.

"I came to find out what was available. I wanted to see what full-time work there is about - I used to work as a supervisor at WH Smith full-time before I had my baby," she said.

District manager Denise Clarke said returning to work can be a daunting prospect but all the trainers and employers were offering flexible options to fit in with family life.

"All the organisations here today want to help and support lone parents to get back to work," she said.

It's estimated that single parents have as many as 93 transferable skills they can offer to an employer.

Personal Adviser Manager Rachel Hawkins is a single mum herself who now helps other lone parents to make the transition back to work.

She explained: "I know personally where the barriers are for lone parents. You think you are the pits of society and everyone labels you a money-grabbing person on benefits - but nothing could be further from the truth.

"The transferable skills a lone parent may have will include financial controller, first aider, child carer, taxi driver, gardener, cook cleaner, decorator - so many people don't realise they have these skills," she said.

The New Deal for Lone Parent advisors give help and support to mums and dads wanting to get back to work.

They can calculate how much better off you will be in a job, identify training opportunities and childcare and help with interviews.

"We will go along with a candidate if they are feeling especially nervous or we can even help out with clothes for an interview. Whatever the circumstances we are there to support you - and that will continue when you have got a job too as we still like to stay in touch," she said.

Rachel added that getting a job wasn't always about being financially better off.

"Sometimes they will end up better off but I have known people who will end up worse off but they go ahead because they want the social side of work.

"It is easier to get another job when already have a job - I liken the whole process to climbing stairs. You can't go up to the next level until you have a solid footing - you need to take it one step at a time," she said.

THE average lone

THE average lone parent living in Southampton with one child can expect to get £95 a week if they are unemployed - the money will be a mix of income support and child tax credit.

In addition the mother will receive child benefit of up to £17.55 for a first child.

If they are living in rented accommodation they can claim housing benefit ranging from £42 - £185 a week and council tax benefit.