Director of One Family, Karen Kiernan and EBS’s Aidan Power, awarded €1,000 to Edenmore Day Care Nursery, Dublin 5. All of the children who attend the nursery,  their parents and nursery staff took part in the ‘Big Night In’ campaign  run  by One Family and EBS to mark UN International Day of The Family and raise money for askonefamily, One Family’s national helpline. Edenmore Day Care Nursey submitted a photograph from their Messy play Day event and were randomly selected as the winners of the €1,000 prize money. One Family would like to thank everyone who joined with us in celebrating families this year.

Fair City actor, Dave Duffy, speaking at the launch of the Annual Report and Client Graduation.

Click here to see Dave speaking to the graduates of our 2010 courses.

We conducted the only national survey ever done of people on the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) and we found that 84% are working, seeking work or in education or training. This means that there is a huge willingness on the part of lone parents on social welfare to improve their circumstances and to move into sustainable employment.  For the summary and full report see: 

http://onefamily.ie/wp-content/uploads/Lone-Parents-Employment-Report-Summary12.pdf

http://onefamily.ie/wp-content/uploads/Lone-Parents-Employment-Research-Full-Report2.pdf

One Family will continue to work to influence the legislation as we still believe that these measures should not be mandatory and that has always been our position. It would be very helpful to our future work if you could share your concerns and ideas with us about what supports you think the government should put in place should they proceed with these changes. Please contact us on 01 6629212 or email info@onefamily.ie

You may have heard in the media of the plans to change the One Parent Family Payment and this has prompted lots of calls to our helpline Askonefamily* as parents are concerned and confused about what these changes will mean for them and their children. To find out more about what the changes will mean for you, click here.

For recent media on the topic see below:

One Family Director Karen Kiernan on The Last Word with Mike Soden, Today FM 31 May http://www.todayfm.com/Shows/Weekdays/Matt-Cooper/listen.aspx and go to The Last Word 5pm hour Monday: 31/5/2010 , click on the second item on that day’s show

Sunday Times 31 May http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article7140295.ece

Irish Independent 31 May http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fury-at-heartless-o-cuivs-plan-to-cut-loneparent-payments-2200541.html

Irish Independent 31 May http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fianna-fail-under-pressure-anger-over-cuts-to-welfare-2201180.html

Seminal research by One Family which calls for a network of child contact centres in Ireland was launched this week by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Barry Andrews, TD, and the media response - including the front page of The Irish Examiner,  three pieces in The Irish Times and other print coverage, along with a feature on RTE Radio 1’s Drivetime, interviews on TodayFM, Newstalk and FM104 – as well as many regional stations - proves just how important this research is. Candy Murphy, One Family Policy Manager and author of the report explains, ‘Child contact centres provide a safe, neutral and welcoming environment where regular contact between parents and children that do not live together can be supported and developed in a range of situations.’ For media coverage and information:

Drive Time with Candy Murphy & Declan Keaveney  http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0412/drivetime_av.html?2734823,null,209

Irish Times report http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2010/0413/1224268217423.html

Irish Times feature  http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2010/0413/1224268217586.html

Irish Examiner front page http://www.irishexaminer.com/home/abused-partners-forced-to-supervise-child-access-117006.html

Irish Examiner report http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/shortage-of-centres-providing-supervised-child-access-117114.html

City Channel News with Candy Murphy starts at 2.15 mins http://video.city.ie/?c=766&k=aed2cd935c

Short launch video clips 

Full report Supporting Child Contact: the Need for Child Contact Centres in Ireland

Summary Supporting Child Contact: the Need for Child Contact Centres in Ireland

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