At the beginning of 2019 we received funding from Comic Relief to kick start a venue for SPW and to create some workshops and activities to hold there. Of course Covid has put a spanner in the this, but we moved quickly and most of the workshops and social meet ups moved online. However, we did manage to hold some workshops and meet ups in our lovely ‘cwtch’.

We wanted to celebrate and tell you more information about Mental Health Foundation. We have partnered with MHF right from the start of SPW. They have really supported us to shape and move forward what we do with a focus on mental health. They really are the gurus of mental health in our eyes, and have so many great projects and ways to get involved. For mental health awareness week this year the theme is Nature and the Environment, which we can’t wait for!

We asked our amazing single parent members what advise they had for other single parents as we enter into the world of homeschooling again during this pandemic. We hope you will find comfort in their words of wisdom and be able to pick up some useful advise and resources. We’ve rounded them up into our 7 top tips. We have also included a section around the advise from teachers and for SEN children.

If you are nutty about branding like us then you will have seen that we have updated our whole brand, including new fonts, colours and of course amazing new logo.

Knowing how we can easily decide any need our child has as being directly linked to our relationship status, I shared some ideas and information about the outcomes of children from separated households and took questions from the group. Thank you all for being so open and bringing so much experience! What follows is a summary for anyone who might not have been able to come along.

I've been a member of SPW for the last few years, and have found the group a huge support. More recently, I've helped some of our single parents through my work by helping them to buy their own homes, buy out exes, remortgage and straighten out their finances using the equity in their homes. Many of those conversations have started with "I don't think I will be able to....", so I've started a series of blogs on lending issues that are likely to arise post Covid. I know first hand that single parents often feel these pinches more than anyone. This first blog is about mortgage lending with adverse credit, which is often more possible than people realise.

We play as children throughout our development, so why, as we grow up, do we stop having all the fun and games? Life becomes busy, stressful and we have excessive responsibilities. So sometimes, we forget what it is or what it’s like to just let go a little. BUT the importance of taking time for ourselves, is one of the main ways to keep our mental health on track! Fortunately for us, the development of games were introduced to help people reduce stress. Wellbeing First let’s talk about wellbeing.

After First Minister, Mark Drakeford’s announcement on Friday many single parents were relieved that they had been considered and listened to during this pandemic. It had high hopes of making them feel, less isolated, lonely, more seen and understood. However, the current announcement left many single parents feeling worse.

Even before this pandemic research consistently showed that single parents are likely to experience loneliness and isolation. Loneliness and isolations has always been a big issue for single parents and something that is brought up over and over again with SPW members. 

Even before this pandemic research consistently showed that single parents are likely to experience loneliness and isolation. Loneliness and isolations has always been a big issue for single parents and something that is brought up over and over again with SPW members. 

As part of the Move More Eat Well project we gathered some of our best recipes to share. Which are both healthy and quick. Plus include some takes on our favourite meals. Check out the tortilla pizza and one pot bolognese, both genius recipes.

There is alot of information and continuously changing rules and guidelines around Covid-19. We have collected some links and useful information for single parents in Wales to access around coparenting, contact and where they stand with all of this. 

Who would have believed it? There is no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic has taken us all by surprise. Even those who should have been better informed on the risk of a pandemic sweeping the globe have been caught out! (Coronavirus: World must prepare for pandemic, says WHO).

Who would have believed it? There is no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic has taken us all by surprise. Even those who should have been better informed on the risk of a pandemic sweeping the globe have been caught out! (Coronavirus: World must prepare for pandemic, says WHO).

Sophia Mico gives us some tips on how to speak to our children about racism.

Who would have believed it? There is no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic has taken us all by surprise. Even those who should have been better informed on the risk of a pandemic sweeping the globe have been caught out! (Coronavirus: World must prepare for pandemic, says WHO).

Who would have believed it? There is no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic has taken us all by surprise. Even those who should have been better informed on the risk of a pandemic sweeping the globe have been caught out! (Coronavirus: World must prepare for pandemic, says WHO).

Single parents in and around this pandemic seem like a forgotten and underrepresented group of people. There are so many complex and hard hitting issues that we at SPW are hearing and seeing being discussed by our members. From loneliness to anxiety and trying to get a food shop shop slot, to everything in between we are hoping to voice these issues, and document some of them.

It was suggested on the group that we come up with daily ways of combatting the negativity and loneliness and isolation that single parents might feel during the Covid-19 outbreak, and uncertainty in these times.

When I first split from my partner the idea of dating somebody new was not at the top of my priority list, it was more about finding a new house and keeping a 4 year old and a newborn alive on my own.