06 December 2006

One Parent Families’ has reopened its specialist advice service for lone parents caring for a child with a disability or long-term health problem. Thanks to funding from the Freemasons’ Grand Charity and supporters of the charity, One Parent Families’ can provide this vital service to the 26% of lone parents who are caring for a child with additional needs.

To use this service, parents should call the Lone Parent Helpline on 0800 018 5026, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm with extended hours on Wednesday 9am– 8pm.

Lone parents can also get information, join a special on-line forum and sign up to receive a quarterly e-bulletin at www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk/disabledchild

Almost three in ten lone parents have a sick or disabled child and, for many, the pressure is intense. They have to cope with a range of feelings and issues surrounding the health and welfare of their child, while enduring constant exhaustion from the physical and emotional demands of raising a child with additional needs. Lone parents contact the project because they need information on finance, benefit entitlements, childcare, contact and child maintenance as well as advice on their child’s disability, special educational needs and respite care.

Natasha Benenson, Head of Direct Services at One Parent Families says: “We are delighted that we can continue to offer a service to help lone parents who are bringing up a child with additional needs. There is a desperate need for specialist help for the thousands of lone parents who are raising a disabled child. The information and support we provide can make a huge difference to peoples’ lives.”

One lone parent who used the project commented, “I have a son who has cerebral palsy, and there are ongoing problems with my ex-partner. I am not able to work as I need to be there to care for my son. When I called the project and explained my situation I was told that as I was caring for my son more than 35 hours a week, I should have been entitled to Carers Allowance. I couldn’t understand why no one had ever told me that I was entitled to this as I’ve been to struggling to make ends meet.”

One Parent Families is the leading national charity working to help the UK’s 1.9 million lone parents. It runs a free, Lone Parent Helpline and advice service on 0800 018 5026, publishes free information booklets and campaigns to build a fairer society for all families.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's helpline is open from Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Call 020 7720 8055.