News

The OPFS Annual Conference will be held in the Albany Centre, Glasgow on Friday 26th November. This year’s theme will be "Supporting Lone Parents into employment”. OPFS is keen to explore the ways in which the voluntary sector can support work with employers which yields sustainable jobs for lone parents, taking them out of poverty.

Times are as follows:
Slamannan every Monday from 1.15pm - 2.15pm in Slamannan Primary School
California every Tuesday from 9am - 11am in California Community Hall
Avonbridge every Thursday from 9.30am - 11.30am in Avonbridge Primary School

We are also running a Buggy Walking Group from Braes Children and Families Centre every Thursday from 1pm - 2pm.

Our childcare sessions held in Maddiston are on:
Monday 9am - 11.30am
Wednesday 9am - 11.30am & 1pm - 3.30pm
Thursday 9am - 11.30am
Friday 9am - 11.30am

Our Director is retiring early in 2011 and we now need a new leader to take OPFS forward.

Gingerbread, the national charity for single parents in England and Wales has obtained a league table of debt owed by non-resident parents for each parliamentary constituency in Britain.

The June 2010 Emergency Budget introduced numerous changes that will affect lone parents in the years to come.

New programme starts November 2010.

In Partnership with Barclaycard, and local service providers, One Parent Families Scotland’s “Choices” service is running a unique work placement programme for lone parents living within Glasgow with children of a dependant age.

childcare@home Aberdeenshire recently celebrated 5 years of service provision to families in Aberdeenshire with a party at their offices in Kemnay. The event was well attended by families, children and staff along with representatives from Aberdeenshire Childcare Partnership, Aberdeenshire Council Social Work, Surestart and Working for Families, and One Parent Families Scotland's HQ office and projects across Scotland. Maria Clark, former Convenor of OPFS's Board of Directors, was kind enough to attend to cut the birthday cake and give the speech.

We have a vacancy at our Edinburgh office for an Information Assistant, funded through the Future Jobs Fund. This is a hotspot vacancy. The criteria to be eligible for this job is :-
18-24 claiming Jobseekers allowance for at least 6 months
25+ Claiming Jobseekers allowance for at least 9 months.
Any age claiming ESA for 9 months
Any age claiming Income Support for 9 months
Any age claiming Incapacity Benefit for 9 months
You must also live in a hotspot area

Please visit jobcentre to check your eligibility and for referral.

The Information Assistant will assist in collecting information about the ways in which we help families in Scotland and will also be involved in helping us to use relevant research information.

Interested applicants who are eligible should contact Rory Ross on 0131-556-3899 or e mail us : info@opfs.org.uk.

Braes Children and Families Centre is looking for a qualified and experienced child and families worker to offer support to children and families across the Braes area.

You will be expected to work in childcare sessions, parent and child groups and on an individual basis.

Further details and application packs from 01324-711271 or info@opfsbraes.org.uk

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