Services and support for single parents.
Parenting a child is challenging. Those parenting on their own may need additional support.
Local services
Health visitors are specialist nurses who can support you and your family during your child's early years. Your health visitor will be an important source of support.
Your local children's centre will be another important source of support. They offer a range of support services, including parenting programmes such as Five to Thrive.
There are 4 Children's Centre hubs in North, East, Central and South Bristol offering a range of services. Support is available for parents and children up to 5, which includes:
- health services
- parenting and family support
- drop-in sessions
- outreach services (information and advice to remote areas)
- early education and childcare
- links to training and employment opportunities
Find support for your relationship with your former partner or co-parent.
ACFA a network of advice centres in the South West of England: free, independent advice across the South West including support about money, housing, mental wellbeing. They can also refer you to specialist legal advice if you need it.
Bristol Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP) is now called Planning Together For Children. Planning Together for Children is a course which promotes cooperative parenting. It supports parents to think about the needs of their children first when they're working out how to parent together when separating or living apart.
Planning Together for Children isn't currently available for parents outside of the court process or who want to refer themselves, but you can use the Parenting Plan. If you can't access the link or don't want to do the plan online, use the Word version.
National resources
Gingerbread: charity for single parents.
Parenting Post Separation: free online course from Fegans for parents, after a breakdown of relationship with the other parent of your child. It will explain why and how to parent when one parent lives elsewhere. It will also give you more confidence about the future for yourself, your children and your ex-partner.
The National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC)
National Family Mediation: help for families in conflict