Meeting 14 Dec to oppose budget cuts to One Parent Family payment

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There is a meeting being organised on Weds 14 Dec in the Central Hotel Dublin to oppose the cuts to the One Parent family payment, supported by many lone parent groups. The purpose is to organise all groups to unite together for one big march, and a continuous campaign until these cuts are reversed. http://www.facebook.com/events/286957361347614/

One Family calls for revearsal on Budget 2012 cuts affecting one-parent families

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We know that many of you are worried, angry and confused by what has been announced in Budget 2012 in relation to one-parent families.  We hear that many of you want to have your voices heard and the cuts reversed. Your comments, personal stories and views are essential so do please keep sharing not just with One Family but also with the media and our politicians. We want to have as many of these cuts reversed as possible because they are unfair and will lead to even deeper levels of poverty in one-parent families and will absolutely not help people into sustainable jobs.

We are sending a letter to all the Ministers, backbenchers and opposition TDs seeking meetings with them and calling on their support to reverse the cuts. We enclose a copy here

We are calling on you to help us by lobbying them as well.  Just adapt the enclosed letter and send it off yourself. Feel free to include your own story and issues. Visit your local TD in their clinic this weekend – speaking to people in person has a huge impact. Explain to them why it is not possible to cut poor families anymore and then expect them to work. We know many of you are interested in having a protest about this issue and this is something we would also like to look at with the help of other organisations so that we can mobilise enough people to be really seen and heard.

Please let us know who you have lobbied and if you are interested in a taking part in a protest by emailing info@onefamily.ie or calling 01 6629212

Remember, our askonefamily helpline is there to provide information and support should you need it on 1890 662212. We will post updates when we know the dates of implementation for the various cuts. Thanks from everyone in One Family.

 

Budget 2012 – easy to read points on how it might affect you

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One Parent Family Payment

 The rate of payment for the One Parent Family Payment will remain at €188 for the adult and €29.80 per child, per week.

The upper age limit of the youngest child for new claimants of the One-Parent Family Payment will be reduced to 7 years on a phased basis. It will be reduced to 12 years with effect from 2012, then age 10 in 2013 to age 7 in 2014.

There is a reduction in the amount of income disregard for One Parent Family Payment from €146.50 a week to €130 per week.  Further reductions will follow in the next four years.

The transitional payment of half of the rate of One-Parent Family Payment will be discontinued when the recipient’s earnings exceed €425 per week. Existing recipients of the transitional payment will not be affected.

Child Benefit

The amount of child benefit will remain at €140 a month for the first two children, then €148 for the third child and €160 for the fourth child and subsequent children.  Over two years the rate will be standardized for all children. Read more

Our sincere sympathy to Leanne Kidd’s family & friends

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One Family would like to acknowledge the sad passing of our former colleague Leanne Kidd yesterday 25 October. Leanne was our first Keyworker and her positive energy and commitment helped many people move forward in their lives. We send condolences to her husband, family and many friends.

86% success rate in One Families’ Marks and Starts programme

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13 out of 15 lone parents who completed One Families’ Marks and Starts getting back to work programme have been offered part-time seasonal contracts.

Marks & Start is funded by Marks & Spencer and offers participants a pre-employment training course, followed by a two-week work placement with one of the most respected high street names and on-going support from One Family towards achieving their goals.

Stuart Duffin, One Family Welfare to Work Manager explains ‘The lone parents who take part learn what they’ve got to offer employers and how to present themselves positively in applications and interviews. They find out about childcare and how they can make working a practical and beneficial option. It’s a great way for someone to get a confidence boost, a sense of direction and a new awareness of the help that’s on offer. The placement with Marks and Spencer proves to participants and future employers alike that lone parents can combine being a parent with paid work.’

The next programme of Marks and Start is due to start in 2012 – please contact sduffin@onefamily.ie if you’d like to know more.

Barnardos and One Family launch Child Contact Centres

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Barnardos and One Family are working together to develop a new service called a Child Contact Centre, which is a safe, friendly and neutral place where children can spend time with the parent/s they do not live with. We are now taking referrals for parents who want to use our new centres in Clondalkin and Ballymun. Referrals can come from families or professionals, but the child must live in the catchment area. For more information please see the documents below or for an initial referral contact 01 4032085 childcontact@barnardos.ie

Child Contact Centre Leaflet

Referral Form

Guidelines for Referrers

Supplementary Referral Information Form

 

Parent alone? Looking to change your life?

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One Family is committed to continued development of its offering to lone parents wishing to return to work/ and or education. In conjunction with Ballsbridge College of Further Education we are now offering the opportunity to take additional FETAC level 4 modules as part of One Family Options programme. One Family is now recruiting for the following programmes: Read more

Volunteer Parent Mentors required

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One Family would like to expand its Parent Mentoring Service and is looking for qualified Parent Mentors who would be interested in volunteering, or people who have completed their training and are looking for placements. For further information please contact Sherie at 01 6629212 or email info@onefamily.ie See http://bit.ly/h9rYYgu

Free concert tickets for one-parent families

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If you are looking for some entertainment for the kids this weekend, The Ark in Dublin are offereing one-parent families free tickets to a concert this Saturday 23 July. There are 25 places and if you parent alone or share parenting and want to go you need to call Sarah at One Family, 01 6629212, by Friday. Read more

New Developments in One Family Welfare2Work Programmes

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One Family is committed to supporting lone parents wishing to return to work and/or education and we are excited about all the new opportunities and courses we have no offer.

We are now recruiting for:

  • The New Futures Programme (FETAC Level 4 Career Planning)
  • The New Futures Programme (FETAC Level 5 Personal and Professional Development)
  • The Options Programme – in conjunction with Ballsbridge College of Further Education we are now offering the opportunity to take additional FETAC level 4 modules as part of One Family Options programme.

 

Contact Helen or Aisling on 01 6629212 or hconway@onefamily.ie and adunlea@onefamily.ie Read more