22 February 2007 - Better off all round: lone parents reveal lifestyle benefits of being in work
An online survey among more than 1,000 lone parents in the UK has shown that over three-quarters (77%) of respondents who have gone back to work say that working has made them feel more independent and 73% 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 agreed that the benefits of work went beyond just financial security, with over half (57%) of those back at work saying that work made them feel more satisfied with life generally.
Respondents who were working were particularly positive about the wider impact of work on their lives:
- 69% said it gave them a sense of identity
- 67% said work made them feel more sociable
- 65% said working gave them a sense of achievement
Those who were not currently working tended to agree. However, both groups cited childcare and flexible hours as key issues when entering work, with 67 per cent of those currently in work, 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 found that the very experience of looking after children on their own had helped them to develop useful skills. Four out of five (81%) respondents who had returned to work said that caring for their children had helped them to become self-reliant, 79% said it had taught them to juggle lots of things at once and 69% 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 nearly half (49%) of respondents who were working said that having a job made them worry more about their children, 81% also thought that the fact that they had a job set a good example to their children. The majority of non-working respondents (79%) mentioned that reassurance that they would be better off with a job than on benefits, would be 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 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
Notes to Editors
- 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.
- Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together
employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element
in the Government's objectives to help people based on ‘Work for those
who can, support for those who cannot’. It provides a professional and
modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work,
including:
- Personal advisers to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance
- A dedicated service to support employers in filling their vacancies quickly and successfully, including the ability to place jobs online
- Ability to search for jobs both online and over the phone through Jobpoints in Jobcentre Plus offices, the Jobseeker Direct phone line and through the website
- Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.
- 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 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. For free help and advice call 0800 018 5026. For all other enquiries call 020 7428 5400.
DWP Press Office
Christian Cubitt: 020 3267 5129
Out of Hours: 07659 108883
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Website: www.dwp.gov.uk