A support group for single parent families is to enjoy a higher profile after it received a Celton Manx Recognition award.
Manx Gingerbread Friendship Group is one of 22 causes to benefit in 2016 from the award scheme aimed at not-for-profit organisations with limited resources for promoting and developing their services.
Cordinator Carrie Yates said: ‘This award is a tremendous boost for our small but growing group of single mums and their children.
‘Manx Gingerbread was set up to provide a safe place for single parent families to get together, share experiences and support each other. We meet once a week and, for many of these mothers – as yet we don’t have any single fathers in the group, although they’d be welcome – a week can be a long time if you’re struggling on your own. We all love being with our children, of course, but there are times when we need to be with other mothers who understand the challenges of being a single parent.
‘Receiving this award has meant we’ve been able to buy toys and games so our children can play and make new friends while we mothers have a chance to talk about a wide range of issues, anything from childcare to balancing the demands of work and home life. This means we’re less stressed…and so are the children.
‘The award has also helped us to fund the rent for the community room at St Ninian’s Church the group uses. The church has been tremendously supportive and the room’s a fantastic space with great facilities. We’ve also had a banner made to raise our profile, which has made a huge difference as we display it outside St Ninian’s so people can find us easily and we can attract more members; we’ll also be using it whenever we meet somewhere else, in a park, for example, to hold a children’s sports day.
‘Thanks to this Recognition award we’re considering expanding and perhaps establishing a second group in the south of the island, but whatever our future plans may hold we will always involve the children because we believe it’s important they begin to understand what being a single parent is all about.’
Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘Life for lone parents can be hard at times; it can also be isolating.
‘Carrie and her peers understand the difficulties - financial, social and emotional – single parents face. Manx Gingerbread Friendship Group is not only providing a valuable forum for these families but also helping to change attitudes about single parenthood. We applaud the group’s efforts and have been pleased to make this Recognition award. Manx Gingerbread Friendship Group is a fine example of the importance of third sector non-governmental organisations that contribute a great deal to the island’s social wellbeing.’
Manx Gingerbread Friendship Group meets at St Ninian’s Church on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm. For more information email: manx_gingerbread@yahoo.com or follow Manx Gingerbread Friendship Group on Facebook.