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Motion · S6M-13635 · 13 Jun 2024

80th Anniversary of One Parent Families Scotland

Lodged by Stephanie Callaghan Members' Business Motion 27 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament congratulates One Parent Families Scotland on its remarkable 80th anniversary, and commends the charity for its tireless efforts in empowering single parents to reach their full potential; understands that the charity provides a range of essential support services, including family, employability, young parent support and welfare rights and financial advice at its five local family centres in Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, and North Lanarkshire, as well as through a national lone parent helpline and digital support services; notes that the charity, originally founded in the 1940s as the Scottish Council for the Unmarried Mother and her Child, was established with the aim of keeping unmarried mothers and their children together; celebrates the charity's growth into what it sees as an impactful organisation, employing 97 members of staff, supporting over 8,000 parents, children and young people annually, and providing welfare rights and financial advice that it considers has benefited nearly 4,000 families, resulting in financial gains for families of over £1.6 million; recognises that one in four families with children in Scotland are single-parent families, with 90% of those being women; considers that, despite significant improvements since the 1940s, gender inequality remains a major cause of discrimination against many single mothers; understands that single parents face unique challenges, combining the roles of sole carer and provider without the ability to pool resources with another adult, often resulting in a higher likelihood of poverty compared to other households; applauds the charity for what it sees as its pivotal role in advocating for single parents across all levels of government, striving to achieve lasting solutions to the poverty that many face, and celebrates what it considers to be the resilience of single parents and the amazing job that they do as parents.

Supporters (27)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.