Public call to give one-parent families an equal chance for economic well-being in Budget 2014

/in , /by

Press Release

(Dublin, Friday 19 July) Today One Family, Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families, calls on members of the public to email and connect with their local TDs to demand the implementation of One Family’s “10 Solutions for Smarter Futures,” a series of ten no-nonsense, low or no-cost actions that government must implement to better the lives of the adults and children in one-parent families who continue to experience the highest rates of poverty in Ireland. 2014 is the 20th anniversary of Family Day as proclaimed by the UN – the Irish Government should reflect this by giving one-parent families an equal chance.

There are over 215,000 one-parent families in Ireland today and over half a million people living in one-parent families. One Family calls on each of these families, and everyone who knows a member of a one-parent family, to join in the campaign by emailing their local TD to ensure that all of Ireland’s families can enjoy a higher quality of life.

One Family Director of Policy and Programmes, Stuart Duffin, commented: “The 10 Solutions are all about delivering some of the supports needed to enable lone parents to have Smarter Futures out of poverty, off social assistance and into quality sustainable jobs.  These solutions may not require a lot of money but they do require public services and policy makers to think and behave creatively in order to deliver more appropriate and effective services for their customers and constituents.”

10 Solutions for Smarter Futures is part of One Family’s Strategy 2013-2015, launched last month on the 28th.  These solutions are focused on improving the well-being of Ireland’s one parent families, and they are changes that will benefit everyone. Just over 87,000 people are in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP).  Mr. Duffin explains: “The new Jobseekers Allowance payment, which responds to our call for Flexibilities, is designed to allow former recipients of OFP whose youngest child is under 14 years of age to avail  of Minister Burton’s activation services to return to work, education or training. The implementation of 10 Solutions for Smarter Futures would make a real difference for lone parents as they move into the workplace, education and/or training as the solutions fully recognise the particular difficulties that can be faced by those parenting alone such as lack of child care and long-term absence from the labour market.”

Mr. Duffin commented further: “To help some of the poorest children in Ireland have a better life, please champion and advocate for 10 Solutions.”

One Family’s Number 1 solution is:

Flexibilities: allow lone parents who are moving to Jobseeker’s Allowance to seek only part-time work during the school term in order to assist lone parents who have a child with a disability or lack of access to childcare or are coping with a bereavement or separation.

Others include: solution 5 – Responsive Learning; solution 6 – Progression Opportunities; solution 10 – Poverty and Parent Proofing.

Members of the public are invited to visit www.onefamily.ie to learn more about 10 Solutions for Smarter Futures and to add their voices to the campaign by availing of the facility there to email their TDs. For additional information, they may also email: solut10ns@onefamily.ie.

Notes for Editors:

  • 1 in 4 families with children in Ireland is a one-parent family
  • Over half a million people live in one-parent families in Ireland
  • Almost 1 in 5 children (18.3%) live in a one-parent family (Census 2011)
  • There are over 215,000 one-parent families in Ireland today (25.8% of all families with children; Census 2011)
  • 87,586 of those are currently receiving the One-Parent Family Payment.
  • Those living in lone parent households continue to experience the highest rates of deprivation with almost 56% of individuals from these households experiencing one or more forms of deprivation (EU-SILC 2011).
  • The full 10 Solutions for Smarter Futures document is available to read here.
  • Twitter #10Solutions

 

About One Family

One Family was founded in 1972 and is Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families offering support, information and services to all members of all one-parent families, to those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and to those working with one-parent families. Children are at the centre of One Family’s work and the organisation helps all the adults in their lives, including mums, dads, grandparents, step-parents, new partners and other siblings, offering a holistic model of specialist family support services. These services include the lo-call askonefamily national helpline on 1890 622 212, counselling, and provision of training courses for parents and for professionals. One Family also promotes Family Day, an annual celebration of the diversity of families in Ireland today, with almost 10,000 people attending events this year on 19 May (www.familyday.ie). For further information, visit www.onefamily.ie.

 

Available for Interview

Stuart Duffin, Director of Policy & Programmes | t: 01 662 9212 or 087 062 2023

 

Further Information/Scheduling

Shirley Chance, Director of Communications | t: 01 662 9212 or 087 414 8511

 

One Family attends pre-budget workshop today, our key messages tracked

/in /by

One Family and the National One Parent Network attended the pre-budget workshop today – a much better interactive approach than previous years. One Family’s key messages and all of our ten solutions in our campaign 10 Solutions for Smarter Futures can be tracked in the Minister’s Department’s thinking about Budget 2014.

Work must pay; therefore in-work supports for those parenting alone must be delivered including:

  • the reform of FIS;
  • affordable, accessible and quality childcare;
  • tailored supports for families so that the most disadvantaged are supported;
  • outcome-based budgets which enforce departments to deliver joined-up thinking for the whole of Government prioritised. That helps to make public resources last, and aids decision makers in prioritising public and social investments that align with the services and supports that people, families and communities have told Government they need to achieve economic independence.

The Department of Social Protection’s budget is a key mechanism in delivering social investment.  Our recommendations are aimed at ensuring that better supports are provided for families. Helping people to better participate in and benefit from inclusion in the economy and community will both encourage economic activity over the short term and provide a strong foundation for longer-term economic growth.

One Family looks forward to working with the government and other stakeholders in this transformation of Ireland’s antiquated social assistance system. As the transformation begins, it is crucial that existing programmes and allowances be kept in place. New supports and programmes must be fully implemented before cuts or reductions in current benefits are made. Incomes for people on social assistance are so marginal that every Euro counts, and every Euro is spent in the local economy which contributes to sustained local economic development.

Annual Review 2012 and Strategy 2013-2015

/in , /by

We are pleased to launch our Annual Review 2012 and Strategy 2013-2015, which may be read and/or downloaded by clicking on the links below:

One Family Annual Review 2012

One Family Strategy 2013-2015

Waiting lists for family supports grow, families get poorer and abortion is debated, again

/in /by

Press Release

Waiting lists for family supports grow, families get poorer and abortion is debated, again

(Dublin, Thursday 27 June) One Family, Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families, launches its Annual Review 2012 and Strategy 2013-2015 tomorrow, Friday 28 June. In addition, the achievements of participants of its training courses will be celebrated at a Graduation ceremony in the beautiful Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin.

One Family recorded an overall 5% increase in demand for services and worked with over 1,500 parents and children despite ongoing funding cuts as the struggles intensified for many families in 2012. People parenting alone, sharing parenting and families in transition availed of a range of specialist services from One Family including counselling, parenting supports, welfare to work training courses, information and Child Contact Centre services.

CEO Karen Kiernan, in speaking about the rise in client numbers in One Family’s Annual Review 2012 commented: “Across all of our areas of service, demand and delivery grew. These figures accurately demonstrate the reality of day to day existence for so many families in Ireland now. There is huge financial and emotional stress on many parents, which is often also experienced by children; and as One Family has seen at our Child Contact Centres, there is a notable increase in the need for supports for people sharing parenting following domestic violence.”

Ms Kiernan elaborated: “Given the ongoing debate on abortion you might be forgiven for thinking all children and families are wanted and well supported in Ireland. This is far from the truth. Poverty levels have increased, Budget 2012 hit poor one-parent families very hard, more people are separating due to financial stresses and resources are not getting to some very vulnerable families who need help. Despite the fact that we have delivered even more services with even less income, we now have waiting lists operating on most of our services and we cannot deal with the amount of families that need support to get through their particular crisis.”

One Family’s Strategy 2013-2015 is also being launched tomorrow. The organisation will continue to work to improve the quality of life for one-parent families and to leverage expertise nationally to reach isolated families around Ireland. It has called on government to implement Ten Solutions for Smarter Futures; ten no-cost or low-cost measures designed to facilitate lone parents to transition into the workplace or education which were developed in response to the harsh cuts aimed at lone parents in Budget 2012. Stuart Duffin, Director of Policy & Programmes, explained: “Ten Solutions is a proactive message to government detailing ten no-nonsense actions which could facilitate lone parents back to work, education and/or training while reflecting their caring responsibilities.”

Maura O’Dea Richards, founding member of One Family (established in 1972 as Cherish), will be welcomed as Keynote Speaker at tomorrow’s launch, and said: “I never could have imagined that in 2013 I would still be saying this same thing: it is time for an Ireland where every child born is welcomed and where every family type is honoured. I hope that another 40 years does not pass before our Constitution reflects the realities of family life in Ireland.”

Events tomorrow conclude with a celebration as over 150 participants graduate from One Family’s training courses of the past year and will be awarded their Certificates.

Notes for Editors

  • Overall 5% increase in services offered to families
  • 16% increase in uptake of One Family’s Welfare to Work programmes
  • New Futures and Career Clinic programmes supported 68% of participants into education with a further 20% into work and 10% onto further training and skill development
  • Close to 200 parents participating in courses
  • Annual Review 2012 is available to read here: http://www.onefamily.ie/about-us/publications/annual-reviews/
  • Strategy 2013-2015 is available to read here: http://www.onefamily.ie/about-us/our-strategy/

About One Family

One Family was founded in 1972 and is Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families offering support, information and services to all members of all one-parent families, to those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and to those working with one-parent families. Children are at the centre of One Family’s work and the organisation helps all the adults in their lives, including mums, dads, grandparents, step-parents, new partners and other siblings, offering a holistic model of specialist family support services. These services include the lo-call askonefamily national helpline on 1890 622 212, counselling, and provision of training courses for parents and for professionals. One Family also promotes Family Day, an annual celebration of the diversity of families in Ireland today, with almost 10,000 people attending events this year on 19 May (www.familyday.ie). For further information, visit www.onefamily.ie.

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO One Family | t: 01 662 9212 or 086 850 9191

Stuart Duffin, Director of Policy & Programmes | t: 01 662 9212 or 087 062 2023

Further Information

Shirley Chance, Director of Communications | t: 01 662 9212 or 087 414 8511

 

Invitation to Annual Review and Strategy Launch with our founder, Maura O’Dea Richards

/in /by

One Family invites you to the launch of our Annual Review 2012 and Strategy 2013-2015 on Friday 28 June. The Keynote speaker is Maura O’Dea Richards, One Family founder.

When:           Friday 28th June 2013

Where:         The Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Square, Dublin 1

Times:          12pm Registration | 12.15pm Start | 1pm Ends

To RSVP, please email info@onefamily.ie or call 01 662 9212 to let us know if you are attending by Tuesday 25th June.

You are also very welcome to stay for the One Family Graduation ceremony from 1.30-3pm to hear from our learners and participants about their achievements in the past year.

Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

Family Day Event Survey

/in /by

If you attended Family Day 2013 celebrations in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2 on Sunday 19 May, we would really appreciate if you could take a few minutes to complete our survey. It is completely anonymous and we will use your feedback in planning for Family Day 2014. We value your opinions and want to make next year’s event even better.

The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Click here to take the Family Day survey.

Thank you.

Update on JAT following briefing at Dept of Social Protection

/in /by

One Family attended a briefing this evening at the Department of Social Protection to learn about the new scheme announced today that will be available to lone parents:  Jobseekers’ Allowance – Transition.

The scheme removes the requirement to be looking and available for full-time employment, but has particular conditionalities that must be met. The Department will be sending letters out to those who were previously expected to move onto Jobseekers’ Allowance in the first week of July. Local offices will not have full details of the JAT until next week.

To read additional information from One Family, including Q&A, please click here.

Anyone who has any questions regarding the upcoming transition, please call the askonefamily lo-call helpline on 1890 662 212.

 

New Jobseekers’ Transition arrangement: For lone parents work is now more of a possibility

/in /by

Press Release

For lone parents work is now more of a possibility

(Dublin, 21 May 2013) Today, Minister Burton, listening and responding to One Family’s Ten Solutions campaign is presenting to Cabinet a progressive reform which will allow lone parents who are on social welfare to seek part-time work rather than full-time when they are moved to Jobseekers Allowance through a new arrangement called Jobseeker’s Transition.

One Family’s Director of Policy and Programmes, Stuart Duffin explains: ‘We have been advocating for this progressive reform since Budget 2012. All our evidence suggests that lone parents often need to access jobs with relatively short hours when returning to employment. Lone parents value working in part time-jobs as a way of balancing labour-market participation with caring responsibilities.’

He continues: ‘A part-time job acts as a ‘stepping-stone’ into working longer hours. There are good reasons for believing that any experience of work is likely to improve future chances of employment – particularly for lone parents who have spent long periods out of work. ‘For those parenting alone, whose primary responsibility and duty of care is to their child(ren), progressive activation which encourage employment efforts by acknowledging and responding to the needs and supports around childcare, personal and career development are very welcome.’

Karen Kiernan, One Family CEO explains: ‘One Family has been calling for a series of flexibilities in relation to the compulsory activation of lone parents in line with other jurisdictions due to the unique family and parenting responsibilities they face. Given the relatively poor provision of accessible and affordable out of school care in Ireland, these flexibilities are a must and we are pleased that Minister Burton has responded to the concerns of our members and clients on this critical issue.’

Duffin further highlights: ‘As part of this reform One Family looks forward to working with Government to provide meaningful engagement and tailored support for those moving back into the labour market and or education to secure a new future for families and children while helping to safeguard parenting responsibilities. Our New Futures programme has been specifically designed to delivery on this welfare to work policy.

Kiernan warns: ‘One Family will be closely monitoring how this policy is implemented in practice to ensure that parents are not compromised and that the number of part-time hours required under the new transition scheme will be achievable for parents.’

Find out more about One Family’s 10 Solutions campaign here: http://bit.ly/15KsorZ  #10Solutions

Press

Available for comment:

Stuart Duffin, Director Policy & Programmes, One Family | t: 087 062 2023

Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family | t: 086 850 9191

For further information or scheduling, please contact:

Shirley Chance for One Family | t: 087 414 8511 | e: schance@onefamily.ie

One Family calls for national debate on what family means

/in /by

Press Release

Let’s make Family Day meaningful for all families –

the Constitution is out of step with reality, it’s time for change

(Dublin, Tuesday 14 May) Tomorrow, Wednesday 15 May is UN International Day of the Family and One Family, Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families, calls for a national debate on what family means in Ireland today.

One Family CEO Karen Kiernan explained: “We are asking the Constitutional Convention to build on the good work that they have been doing and add an additional item to their agenda to look at Articles 41 and 42 which deal with the family. In particular a review of Article 41.3.1° would support some of the other issues already debated such as same sex marriage and women’s role.”

One Family has consistently called to have the Constitution expanded to recognise and protect all kinds of families and not just the marital family since its establishment in 1972 as Cherish. This issue was examined by the All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution in their Tenth Progress Report on the Family which was published in 2006. Due to fears of divisiveness no recommendations for change were made in relation to a referendum on the definition of the family.

Kiernan further comments: “The Constitution is clearly out of step with today’s society, family life and demographics as 1/3 of all births are to parents not married to each other, 1 in 5 children live in a one-parent family and same-sex families are on the increase. To mark this and to celebrate the great family diversity that exists in Ireland today, One Family will host our third major event marking Family Day this Sunday in Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens.”

Notes:

  • Article 41.3.1° states that “[t]he State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded”.
  • Family Day, presented by One Family and EBS, is a national celebration calling on families all over Ireland to celebrate their family and celebrate family diversity on 19 May.
  • As well as a free, fun Family Day picnic with entertainment, workshops, sports and more on Sunday 19 May in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2 from 11am-5pm, children around the country can enter an art competition on the theme of “My Family is …”
  • Full information on www.familyday.ie

About One Family

One Family was founded in 1972 and is Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families offering support, information and services to all members of all one-parent families, to those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and to those working with one-parent families. Children are at the centre of One Family’s work and the organisation helps all the adults in their lives, including mums, dads, grandparents, step-parents, new partners and other siblings, offering a holistic model of specialist family support services. These services include the lo-call askonefamily national helpline on 1890 622 212, counselling, and provision of training courses for parents and for professionals. One Family also promotes Family Day, an annual celebration of the diversity of families in Ireland today, with events taking place this year on 19 May (www.familyday.ie). For further information, visit www.onefamily.ie.

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family | t: 01 662 9212 or 086 850 9191

 

 

 

One Family Delegate at Leuven Conference on Social Investment Package

/in /by

One Family’s Director of Policy & Programmes, Stuart Duffin, is attending the Conference on the Social Investment Package today and tomorrow at the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe, Belgium. A framework for policy reforms to enhance social protection, invest in people’s skills and capabilities, and support people as required throughout their lives is outlined in the package which was adopted by the European Commission on 2 February this year as part of the response to the fiscal and economic crisis.

Stuart, along with a handful of other non-governmental delegates from Ireland, represents One Family as one of the ‘actors’ in social investment, potentially affording the organisation a level of influence into how the Social Investment Package will be implemented in Ireland.

The Package will be presented to a target audience of Member States officials, elected representatives, civil society, social partners, the private sector and others during the Conference, leading to proposals for future joint actions in support of its implementation. Three key thematic elements of the package – investment, innovation and involvement – will serve as focus;

  • Investment: The Social Investment Package and its relevance to EU social policies in the future
  • Innovation: Why we need to foster Social Innovation and how we can put it into practice in the social economy and involving NGOs
  • Involvement: What vision of a social Europe do young Europeans want to see?

Speakers include José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council; László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion; and Joan Burton, Irish Minister for Social Protection.

To read and/or download a briefing about the Social Investment Package written by Stuart Duffin, please click here: One Family_Social Investment Package Briefing_April 2013.

Further information about the Social Investment Package is available here.