There are 1.9 million families, with over 3 million children, headed by a single parent, ie 25% of all families with children in the UK. More than half of these households live in poverty. Single parents face a number of particular disadvantages with issues such as finding and keeping a job, meeting the cost of childcare, negotiating the legal system to agree contact and child maintenance, and securing benefit entitlements. A significant minority deal with homelessness and domestic violence.

Access to high quality information, emotional and practical support is often the first step for single parents to find their feet again, understand their situation, make difficult decisions and plan for the future. Our Helpline gives single parents free, confidential and independent information and advice, delivered in a calm, friendly and non-judgemental manner. We employ experienced professinal advisers and also provide a comprehensive range of fact sheets by post and online.