Over and over again we hear our SPW members discuss how difficult they find managing conflict and in particular how they respond not react when one parent bad mouths the other parent to their children. We have put together practical and useful ways to approach this and react in a positive way whilst also supporting your child.

In this blog we have a simple way of ticking a few boxes, cleaning beaches and making a nice keep sake., by safely collecting glass from beaches.

Mary Atkinson is an ward-winning author and complementary therapist, is co-founder of the Story Massage Programme, a fun and inclusive way of combining the benefits of positive nurturing touch with the creativity of stories, poems, and songs. She talks about how this simple concept can help you connect and interact with your child.

The concept of love languages was created by couples counsellor Dr. Gary Chapman. He had noticed that people differ in what sort of interactions make them feel connected to their partner. In 1997, Dr. Chapman wrote a book with Dr. Ross Campbell about how the five love languages can apply to children as well.

There is a real fear and panic for single parents around the energy prices going up. The cost is going up over 50% by 1st April. For the average household that is £693 per year.

This will particularly have an effect on single parents. The media term being used by the media “heat or eat” is echoing in the minds of single parent households around the UK. 

Lots of single parents have already taken a financial hit with having £20 per week being taken away from Universal Credits, plus the hardship of unpaid child maintenance. The news about the energy will have a direct impact on single parent households across the UK. Hear our members’ responses, what the Government is doing and some simple energy saving tips you can do today.

Emily has a few hats that she wears including working on the Widening Participation Team, single parent and imspirational young person. In this spotlight Emily talks about the teams vision for young people, juggling being a single parent and what would be in Emily’s Mental Health Manifesto.

My name is Indigo. My daughter is Ruby. She’s 8 now, and we’ve been on our own at home since she was 1. Don’t worry, the amount of house work went down significantly from that point onwards! 

Over the years, I’ve come up with some time savings ideas which work great in our house. I’ve also asked for ideas from other parents and would love to hear your thoughts. Lets share and grow together! 

The world changed when covid hit and one of the resounding messages we understood clearly from the lockdowns and the restrictions on our lives, was that connection is vital.

Why is connection such a valuable tool for us parents to use though? And how do we make it really effective? Find out in this blog by our Creative Lead Facilitator Rachel Brydon.

Here is how to make a super simple meditation / mindful jar.

Christmas has come and gone and you’re feeling a bit deflated as the long nights and cold days lay ahead, and you’re feeling like your children don’t appreciate the effort you went to at Christmas or are not grateful for the gifts they received. How do you get past this?

Not feeling like you’re the most creative? Worried that your child won’t sit in front of zoom and get involved? Don’t know anyone else who attends? If there are always feels like an absolute mass of reasons why you shouldn’t get involved with something that is unknown, we get it, the unknown can feel scary. We want to give you the opportunity to not only get involved, but enjoy the whole process, so have a little read of this and if you have any other questions send them our way.

Mothers Matter was set up by Katy Thomas after she saw a gap in what is needed for new mums struggling with their mental health. We love how compassionate her services offer. In this interview Katy talks openly about her struggles with mental health after her daughter was born and how other mums can reach out, get support and not feel alone in their thoughts.

Christmas for many is a time to be celebrated – a break from work, socialising with friends and family and shopping in excess. But for single parents, the festive period can be anything but merry, bringing a host of financial, logistical, social and emotional pressures.  

We understand that single parents face an increase in household bills and this year have been struck by a decrease in Universal Credit benefits all adding to the financial burden of the holidays.

With many single parents being without their children and working increased hours to meet the demands and expectations of the festive period, we would like to call on Single Parents across Wales to join our network so that we can support you in combatting the Christmas blues. 

As part of our Young Person’s Project we wanted our team wanted to share their experiences of mental health, what has helped them and advice for other young people.

As part of our Young Person’s Project we wanted our team wanted to share their experiences of mental health, what has helped them and advice for other young people.

Etholiad Senedd Ieuenctid Cymru 2021, Welsh Youth Parliament Elections 2021, means that young people aged between 11- 18 years old can vote for a candidate in their area. Voting will take place between 1-22nd November 2021.

We interviewed Amelia ahead of the youth parliament elections and we think you’ll agree that Amelia is a leader of the future.

Candidate Amelia is a focused young person with heart and a real ambition to make a difference in her community. Plus Amelia is growing up in a single parent household and is a real inspiration to other young people.

Every month we spotlight amazing organisations in Wales that are doing great things in the community. This month we are interviewing Olga Sullivan, Director of the Cardiff Branch of Samaritans.

In this interview Olga tells us more about the amazing services they offer, advise on what to say to a loved one that’s struggling and an insight into what their phone lines have been like during covid.

Rom coms and other media would have us believe that when a relationship breaks down or we part ways with someone we’ve had a child with that you meet for coffee, are best mates or generally run through meadows together.

I’m sure a small percentage of the single parent population do have that, but the vast majority will have been on a rollercoaster to get to the coparenting relationship they have today. Or they manage to parallel parent or even counter parent.

Every month we spotlight amazing organisations in Wales that are doing great things in the community. This month we are interviewing Homestart Cymru including what services they offer, their Rainbow Volunteer programme and how they have expanded to reach families during the course of the pandemic.

Every month we spotlight amazing organisations in Wales that are doing great things in the community. This month we are getting to know Advocacy Support Cymru including what services they offer and looking at ways they promote social inclusion, equality and social justice.