BETTER OFF ALL ROUND

WEST MIDLANDS LONE PARENTS REVEAL LIFESTYLE BENEFITS OF BEING IN WORK

An online survey among UK lone parents has shown that 67% of respondents in the West Midlands who had experience of both working and caring for their children full time say that working made them feel more independent and 67% also felt more confident. The research was commissioned by Jobcentre Plus and carried out by One Parent Families, the national charity for lone parents and their children.

Those who took part in the survey were asked to compare their working lives to the time spent caring full-time for their children. Most respondents in the West Midlands agreed that the benefits of work went beyond just financial security, with over half (57%) saying that work made them feel more satisfied with life generally.

Many respondents from the West Midlands were also positive about the wider impact of work on their lives:

• 77% said work made them feel more sociable
• 73% said it gave them a sense of identity
• 69% said working gave them a sense of achievement

However, childcare and flexible hours emerged as a key issue when entering work, with 63% saying that they felt it had been difficult to find a job that fitted in with childcare or school hours.

Denise Nixon, a specialist Lone Parent Adviser at Jobcentre Plus, said, "Nationally, we help thousands of lone parents start work every month by helping them overcome the practical challenges they face. If you're looking after a child by yourself but thinking about getting back into work, our Lone Parent Advisers can help you explore the options best suited to your situation. For example, they can provide information on Sure Start's Children's Centres or their Children's Information Service. Alternatively, they can help you find work part-time, full time or jobshare and can advise you on training for the job you want."

One Parent Families' research also showed that most respondents in the West Midlands found that the very experience of looking after children on their own had helped them to develop useful skills. More than four out of five (84%) said that caring for their children had helped them to become self-reliant, 83% said it had taught them to juggle lots of things at once and 81% said it had made them better at budgeting.

Chris Pond, chief executive of One Parent Families said, "We know that nine out of ten lone parents want to work when the time is right for them and their children and this survey shows that work can bring real benefits. But the survey also highlights the barriers to finding work that many lone parents face, and with which they need help and support. The voluntary New Deal for Lone Parents can provide this help, and avoids pressuring lone parents to take up work that may not be suitable for them."

Whilst 57% of respondents in the West Midlands said that having a job made them worry more about their children, 80% also thought that the fact that they had a job set a good example to their children. Half (50%) of respondents in the West Midlands mentioned that reassurance that they would be better off with a job than on benefits, was important in helping them think about work. 

Denise Nixon of Jobcentre Plus said, "Going back to work can be a difficult step to make if you're not sure about the financial impact it's going to have on your family. If you're in any doubt, pop into your local Jobcentre Plus where we can run a tailored calculation so you can see upfront how having a job could help improve your financial situation."

Throughout the months of February and March, Jobcentre Plus will be mailing information to lone parents in Britain who receive income support, outlining the help and support available through their specialist advisers in entering the jobs market.

To find your nearest Jobcentre Plus, log onto http://www.jobcentreplus.org.uk/ or if you're looking for a job, call us on 0845 606 0234.

Available on further request:

• Case studies of lone parents who have returned to work
• Interviews with a Jobcentre Plus Lone Parent Adviser

The survey was conducted online between 15 January and 2 February 2007 by One Parent Families. The sample consisted of 1,060 respondents who were members of lone parent organisations: Gingerbread, One Parent Families and One Parent Families Scotland.

Customers can access Jobcentre Plus services through around 1,000 locations across Great Britain, including over 800 newly refurbished Jobcentre Plus offices. Touch-screen terminals and Customer Access Phones are also available in a further 120 sites such as libraries and local authority premises. Jobcentre Plus works with over 275,000 employers to place 17,000 people into work every week. Over 400,000 vacancies are listed each week on its website and more than 4m job search requests are received, making it the number one UK recruitment website.

For further information on the services that Jobcentre Plus provides employers and people of working age visit http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/. 

One Parent Families is a national charity which aims to prevent the poverty, social exclusion and stigma faced by lone parents by providing direct services and campaigning on their behalf. The charity runs a free phone service for lone parents, offering independent, confidential information and advice on issues affecting lone parents, including childcare, employment, money issues, children's behaviour, and information about other useful organisations. Call 0800 018 5026.