Here is any update on what we’ve been doing – we have lobbied every TD and senator by phone or email and have managed to get meetings with Labour and FG politicians today to try and get changes to the proposed cuts. Senators are also raising questions for us today. We have also emailed thousands of supporters and other organisations asking for support to reverse some of the cuts. We are constantly in touch with Dept of Social Protection seeking clarification on dates and phasing in times. We can respond to any individual queries if anyone wants to call our helpline 1890622122. One Family is joining a protest tomorrow being organised by a group of enterprising lone parents and we encourage everyone to join us to show your support. 2-5pm outside the Dail Friday 9 Dec http://www.facebook.com/OneFamilyIreland#!/events/129422247170088/
On 25 October the European Parliament approved an own initiative report on the situation of single mothers, to which Eurochild contributed together with its member organisation One Family. The report outlines that in 2001 85% of single parents were women aged 25-65 and that these women are statistically less educated than married counterparts, face higher level of unemployed, are underpaid, as well as suffer bad health and increased level of stress due to their fragile situation. The issue is particularly important not only because a number of single parent households in Europe is constantly increasing, but also because they are almost three times more likely to be at risk of poverty and social exclusion than couples with children. (more…)
We need your votes every day please between now and 11 November for a short video about Family Day which we have submitted for the Better Together Awards. If we get enough votes the video will go into the top ten and could win €3000 for One Family.
All you need to do is click this link http://bit.ly/pHtQQP and then choose the 5 star option ‘awesome’ each day. Every vote helps to support the work we do here for people who parent alone and share parenting and for our campaign to raise awareness of family diversity in Ireland. Thank you in advance!
Jamelia has made a wonderful documentary on Single Mums showing on BBC3, for air times see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0140p9n. Our Director Karen Kiernan has been speaking about social welfare fraud and lone parents on TV3’s Ireland AM at http://www.tv3.ie/ireland_am.php?video=39558&locID=1.65.74 in response to a very poor article in the Irish Daily Mail on the issue on Tuesday. Finally One Family was mentioned in the Irish Times where advice was being given to a separated woman who wants to get back to work, see more at http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2011/0831/1224303229511.html
For all this information and more follow us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OneFamilyIreland
Interesting piece by Ann Marie Hourihane in today’s Irish Times – about how single mothers seem to have been unfairly scapegoated as being in some way ‘responsible’ for the London riots see http://bit.ly/ogcar8
Thanks to the good people at Zozzy TV, our video ‘One Family Stories’ is now being shown on the huge screen at the top of Dublin’s Grafton Street. It helps spread the word about the need for acceptance of and support for one-parent families. Thanks very much Zozzy. You can see the video here
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
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
Karen Kiernan, One Family’s Director, will be giving a talk about collaborations and mergers at a WINSENT (Wales Ireland Network for Social Entrepreneurship) Networking Event at 6.30pm on Wednesday 2 March at Boston College, 42 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2. For Further information see www.winsent.eu
TV3’s Midweek is looking for people who parent alone, and who find themselves struggling since the budget cuts, to take part on their Weds 26 Jan show. Please call 087 6495710 if you are interested.
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: (more…)
Ireland AM’s Aiden Cooney had an interesting chat with lone parent Rachel Sullivan and One Family Director Karen Kiernan about parenting alone and sharing parenting in Ireland…you can view it here
RTE Radio’s Tubridy Show heard from some fathers who parent alone about how they manage parenting – and the dating game – One Family client John McCann told his story. Listen here to join the debate….
On 27 January The Tubridy Show on RTE Radio One heard from some mothers who parent alone about the trials and tribulations of the dating game, One Family client Deborah told her story and got such a great reaction that they plan to do a show on dating for dads soon – to listen to the show click here…
One Family is now on Facebook, Flickr and Twitter. Our website is becoming more interactive, you may now register and participate in online discussion here, commenting on anything we publish from now on.
The site now has an RSS feed for those who have newsreaders. Please become a fan on Facebook and let your friends know how you feel about Our Family. Or simply follow us on Twitter, username 1familyireland, so you are always kept informed as to what we are doing.
Later in the year, we are planning to give our website a facelift.
As part of this transition, our Privacy Policy has changed – this website now uses “cookie” technology, in order to enable us to obtain accurate and informative visitor statistics, and to enable members of One Family to be recognized and to log on.
