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Survival guide for single dads
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12/06/06 In the run-up to Father's Day on 18th June, national charity One Parent Families is offering a free, Funday Activity Prize to the Single Dad who comes up with the best suggestion on how to cope well when you're raising your kids single-handedly.
The competition is open to any Single Dad who lives with and has primary care of his children. Single dads should send their suggestion (which should be no longer than 100 words) either by email to dads@oneparentfamilies.org.uk or online at www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk/dads or post to One Parent Families, 255 Kentish Town Road, London, NW5 2LX. Closing date for entries is 21st June. The winner and runner-up entries will be announced on 21 June on the Single Dads page of the One Parent Families website along with contributions made by entrants.
The winning Single Dad will be able to choose from a range of activity prizes - including a balloon flight for two, a one-hour flying lesson, half-day rally driving and white water rafting for four - generously provided by www.funday.com. Two runners-up can choose from a range of Hamleys toys for their kids.
One Parent Families Chief Executive Chris Pond says: "In the run-up to Father's Day we're flagging up the fact that there are 180,000 single dads out there doing their utmost for their children in difficult circumstances. We want to hear Single Dads' best suggestions and top survival tactics for juggling it all and enabling their families to thrive. The prize is a fantastic, free treat for the Single Dad offering the best advice."
One Parent Families Ambassador and top basketball player John Amaechi - who adopted two teenage boys as their primary carer and was himself raised in a single parent family - says:
"The most enduring, powerful and rewarding thing I have ever done is to share my life with my children. I feel forever honoured to have them in my life and blessed that they felt they could come to love me. My kids have made me forever aware of the power and duty associated with fatherhood and the amazing impact we can have on our children as a lone parent or otherwise."
Ten per cent of Britain's 1.8 million lone parents are Dads, most of whom have been married and are raising their kids alone after a divorce or separation. Ten per cent are widowed. Almost a third (30%) of single Dads are living on gross weekly household incomes below £200 (compared to only seven per cent of married couples). Many go through periods of feeling isolated and lonely and may find it hard to link up with the support networks traditionally organised by mums. For others, the biggest initial hurdles can be asking for help, getting into a domestic routine and dealing with challenging behaviour from the children.
One Parent Families is the leading, national lone parent charity providing direct services to single parents and campaigning on their behalf. It runs a free, Lone Parent Helpline and advice service on 0800 018 5026 and publishes a range of free information booklets on all the issues affecting one parent family life. Together with public and private sector organisations it delivers employability training for single parents who want to return to work. Last year the Lone Parent Helpline took more than 21,000 calls from single parents needing practical help, information and support.
Notes to Editors:
Press Contacts
Jane Ahrends - 020 7428 5426 / 0788 1951138
Ellie Backhouse - 020 7428 5440
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