Minister Frances Fitzgerald TD today launched a brand new networking event for people who work in the areas of family and parenting supports for one-parent families.
The Links event, organised by One Family, Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families, was the first of its kind and provided the opportunity for people who work with one-parent families to promote their services and to swap information and experiences.
Speaking at the event, Minister Fitzgerald commented: ‘I am delighted to see the establishment of events such as this one, which encourage the exchange and sharing of expertise in this vital sector.’
Minister Fitzgerald went on to launch two publications for One Family – ‘Family Communications – Coping with Family Life and Communicating with Teenagers’, a comprehensive guide to effective family communication, and One Family’s unique iPad application entitled, ‘Parenting Well’.
Karen Kiernan, One Family Director, explained: ‘We wanted to create a type of services trade fair atmosphere – somewhere where people who support those parenting alone and sharing parenting could compare notes and exchange valuable information.’
As well as a wide range of information stands, taken by community and voluntary sector organisations, the well attended event featured a series of talks and key note speeches from Gordon Jeyes, HSE’s National Director of Children and Family Services and Dr John Sharry, parenting expert.
Do you want to participate in a free networking day for people who work in the areas of family and parenting supports for one-parent families? Do you want to hear some great key-note speakers such as parenting expert John Sharry and Gordon Jeyes, HSE’s National Director of Children and Family Services? Then the One Family Links event is for you! It will be opened by Minister for Children & Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald TD at 10.30am on Thursday 9 June 2011 at the Coach House, Dublin Castle, and runs until 6pm. It’s free to attend and learn about best practice, what services are available locally and nationally – and how you can facilitate your professional development. You can come for the whole day or just drop in to hear the speakers that interest you. (more…)
Today is UN International Day of the Family, an annual celebration of the diversity of families and family life across the world. To mark the day One Family and EBS Building Society came together to celebrate Irish families and family diversity by hosting The Family Day picnic in Iveagh Gardens, a free event with entertainment for all the family. Hundreds of families joined the fun for Family Day by either attending the picnic in Iveagh Gardens or by hosting their own event with their family to mark the day. All families who registered for Family Day are still in with a chance to win €1,000 by simply submitting a photograph from their ‘Family Day’ to www.familyday.ie. Pictured enjoying the fun today were Hunzah Alraqi(5) and Shafeeq Alraqui taking part in the wheelbarrow race, Jamie Duffy (2) with Twinkle Toes the owl from Dublin Zoo and Rocio & Belen Gonzalez (3) enjoying the face painters. Thanks to everyone who has helped to make Family Day such a huge success.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE FAMILY CELEBRATED WITH FAMILY DAY PICNIC & FREE ENTERTAINMENT IN IVEAGH GARDENS
PICNIC HELD BY ONE FAMILY AND EBS BUILDING SOCIETY TO CELEBRATE FAMILIES IN IRELAND
Sunday 15th May, 2011 – Today is UN International Day of the Family, an annual celebration of the diversity of families and family life across the world. To mark the day One Family and EBS Building Society came together to celebrate Irish families by hosting a free family day picnic in Iveagh Gardens. Hundreds of families joined the fun for Family Day by either attending the picnic in Iveagh Gardens or by hosting their own event with their family to mark the day.
Speaking about International Day of the Family, Aidan Power, Head of Marketing at EBS Building Society, said: “EBS is delighted to be partnering with One Family to celebrate International Day of the Family. It’s great to have so many families in the one place enjoying the day. Families are important to EBS and that’s why we partnered with One Family in the lead up to today. I’d like to congratulate One Family on all their hard work in making today a huge success.” (more…)
Thanks to Bonnie Brady and Brian O’Connell for talking about parenting alone and Family Day and the need for acceptance of family diversity on TV3’s This Morning, starts 24 mins in Weds 11 May.
And – here’s a good piece with One Family Director Karen Kiernan on Family Day in Metro Herald – page 18/19 http://e-edition.metroherald.ie/2011/05/11/
Hope you are all set for Family Day, Sunday 15 May? There’s a good piece in today’s Herald about it and about family diversity and the need to embrace all types of families. Dont forget to join us from 1pm to 5pm in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2 for a Family Picnic or why not organise your own event and be in with the chance to win €1000*? More information about Family Day 2011 can be found here or to read the article in the Herald, click here
Thanks to everyone who came along to hear Dr Brenda Flanagan’s inspiring talk at One Family. Brenda is one of the US’s premier women writers, and a cultural ambassador, she talked about Accomplishing your Goals as a Single Parent. Everyone was touched, moved and inspired by her story – how she achieved her own success, both as a writer and as a parent, and her secret advice for would-be writers or anyone who needs to juggle life’s demands with their own dreams – get up at 4am! See here for more information.
Media Release 28 April 2001: One Family responds to OECD report on children in poverty and stresses importance of Family Day 15 May
The latest OECD report tells us about the wide range of family changes that are taking place across Europe and highlights that poverty in households with children is rising in nearly all countries. One Family, Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families, once again urges Governments to ensure that family support policies protect the most vulnerable. (more…)
In association with the United States Embassy Dublin, One Family welcomes US Cultural Ambassador and award-winning writer Dr Brenda Flanagan to Cherish House, Dublin 2. Please join us on Friday 6 May from 10am until 12 noon to hear Dr Brenda Flanagan speak on Accomplishing your Goals as a Single Parent. Known for her inspiring talks and her performance abilities, Brenda will weave in her experiences as a writer, so anyone with an interest in writing should attend. Places are limited so early booking is vital. Please email to Stuart at sduffin@onefamily.ie or info@onefamily.ie to book your place for this free event. For details see http://bit.ly/jA9zE8
In association with the United States Embassy Dublin, One Family welcomes US Cultural Ambassador Dr Brenda Flanagan to Cherish House, Dublin 2
This is a unique experience to hear one of the US’s premier women writers
You are invited to join One Family on Friday 6 May from 10am until 12 noon to hear Dr Brenda Flanagan speak on Accomplishing your Goals as a Single Parent.
Known for her inspiring talks and her performance abilities, Brenda will weave in her experiences as a writer, so anyone with an interest in writing should attend. Places are limited so early booking is vital.
Brenda Flanagan was born in Trinidad in 1949, the twelfth of fourteen children in an impoverished family. Her father was a barman, her mother a laundress. Brenda recalls having a hunger for involvement with the wider world and dreamt of being a writer. She started writing poetry at the age of ten and by thirteen she was singing calypsos and earning money for it. However, at the age of fourteen she had to leave school to help support her family, by then only parented by her mother. She worked for a time in a factory, then was taken on as a trainee reporter of The Nation, the newspaper of the then ruling People’s National Movement led by Dr. Eric Williams. (more…)
We are proud to say that One Family Director, Karen Kiernan, is a judge for the 2011 Chambers Ireland Corporate Social Responsibility Awards. These awards aim to recognise the work being carried out by companies in Ireland in helping to improve the lives of their employees and enhance the civic environment in which they operate. If you think that your company or a company you are familiar with should enter, invite them to apply here on or before 12pm, Thursday May 5th
Want a free make-over, or even a ‘make-under’? Parenting alone is tough on your wallet and leaves little money for luxuries which is where RTE’s ‘Off the Rails’ TV series can help you – they are looking for participants for their new series and will give you a free style revamp. Contact offtherails@rte.ie if you are interested.
One Family & EBS Building Society announce details of Free Family Day Picnic to be hosted in Iveagh Gardens on 15 May. Ray D’Arcy calls on people to celebrate families on 15 May to mark International Day of the Family.
International Day of the Family, on 15 May 2011, is an annual celebration of the diversity of families and family life across the world. Speaking today broadcaster Ray D’Arcy explained, “Mothers’ Day is for mums and Fathers’ Day is for dads but Family Day is for everyone to celebrate all types of families.” He added: “Everyone is so busy these days that family members don’t spend as much time together as they once did. Family Day aims to rectify this by simply encouraging families to have fun and spend more time together.” Ray D’Arcy was speaking at today’s announcement that this year to mark International Day of Family – One Family and EBS Building Society will be hosting a Family Day Picnic in The Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2. (more…)
Any lone parents interested in our ‘Marks & Start’ course at One Family which offers training and work placement? The programme gives a confidence boost, a sense of direction, purpose, and a new awareness of the help that is on offer to balance family life and work . Travel costs and meals are met. The programme gives participants experience of the retail sector and equips them for not only roles in M&S but with other companies by giving them a set of marketable skills. And, of course, gives them a reference from one of the most respected high street names.
The programme includes a FETAC level 3 accreditation. Dates: Training 10, 11, 12 and 13 May 2011 at 10am until 1.30pm
Probation work placement: 16 to 27 May 2011 For more information and an initial telephone interview contact Aisling Dunlea (adunlea@onefamily.ie) at 01 662 9212 Ext 23
Apprentice candidate Breffny Morgan wrote an incredibly moving and positive piece about being brought up in a one-parent family – his mum was a lone parent – it was in The Irish Independent – read it here and please spread the news Breffny Morgan on Single Parents
One Family Counselling Coordinator Sherie de Burgh talks about unplanned pregnancy and One Family’s crisis pregnancy services. Check out these links on ‘Unplanned Pregnancy? Talking to a Counsellor can help’.
Unplanned Pregnancy: Support For Men
One Family and EBS want you to celebrate families on Family Day, Sunday 15 May 2011 – and be in with the chance to win €1000!
All you have to do is hold a family-themed event. If you are an organisation, think about story telling events, arts and crafts projects or talks. If you are a family, think outdoor games, treasure hunts or family X-Factor competitions. www.familyday.ie will soon be up and running with details of how to register your event, upload photos of it – and then be in with a chance of winning the €1000.
And/ or
Join us for the Family Day picnic in The Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2, from 1-5pm, Sunday 15 May to enjoy our family entertainers, workshops and games – all free of charge. Bring your own picnic! www.familyday.ie will have more information and updates on what we have planned.
Tune into ‘My Dad’ on RTÉ radio 1 – this documentary lays bare the realities of single fatherhood, introducing three single or separated Dad’s as they tell us about their circumstances and how their role as parents has changed their lives.
RTÉ One Radio 19 March at 2 pm, repeated Sunday 20 March at 7.02pm. Available online at www.rte.ie/doconone
Reminder – a Census of Population will take place in Ireland on April 10 next and everyone who is in Ireland on that night must be included in the census. It is important for us all as a society that everyone is included and that correct information is collected. If you represent a group or community, it is also important that they themselves are included so that full account will be taken of them and their needs when decisions are being made for the future.
For further information and to see the answers to some of the most frequently
asked questions www.census.ie or call the CSO on 01-8951304.
Concerned about how to introduce a new partner to your kids? Read our advice here from One Family Childcare and Parenting coordinator, Ger Kelly Parenting Tips
This month’s Food & Wine has a great piece about the One Family food and wine fundraiser held in the RHA – it tells you how to make the irresistible, cost-effective canapés from Fallon & Byrne and suggests affordable Wolf Bass wines to compliment. Thanks to all involved!
Celebrate Family Day 2011 and be in with the chance to win €1000…
One Family and EBS Building Society invite you to celebrate families on Family Day, Sunday 15 May 2011. You can either
- hold your own fun event – think arts and crafts projects, play days or story telling hours – and/or
- join us for Family Day in The Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2, from 1-5pm, Sunday 15 May to enjoy our family entertainers, workshops and games – all free of charge. Bring your own picnic!
www.familyday.ie will soon be up and running with details of how to register your event, upload photos of it – and then be in with a chance of winning €1000.
One Family’s election manifesto has been sent to all the political parties and we will keep you up-dated of any feedback. You can read our manifesto here
Please make one-parent families an issue in the election by asking canvassers these questions:
1 What will your party do in government to reduce the very high poverty rates experienced by one-parent families?
2 What are your views on the recent social welfare changes that require lone parents whose youngest child is over 14 to go on to Jobseekers Allowance rather than on the One-Parent Family Payment?
3 Do you believe that the definition of the family in the constitution should be changed? (Currently only the marital family is recognised in the Irish constitution). If not, why not?
For a more detailed list of ten questions and helpful up-to-date statistics on one-parent families see here