Single Parents Wellbeing
 |
 Logo used since establishment | |
| Formation | December 7, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Founder |
|
| Purpose | Support for single parents in Wales |
| Headquarters | Cardiff, Wales |
Director | Julie Green[1] (former director) |
| Website | www |
Single Parents Wellbeing CIC, also referred to as Single Parents Wales,[a] is a Welsh community interest company (CIC). Based in Cardiff, it supports single parents through peer support, wellbeing programmes, advocacy, and community engagement. The organisation focuses on improving mental health and reducing loneliness among single-parent families, while challenging stigma and fostering resilience. SPW was founded in 2017 and has grown to become a prominent voice for single parents in Wales.
History
[edit]Single Parents Wellbeing CIC was founded by Amy Holland and her friend, Rachel Cule, on 7 December 2017, in Cardiff, Wales.[2][3] Until 2025, the organisation's director was Julie Green, a former patron of the organisation.[4] The organisation was created in response to the unique challenges encountered by single-parent families. Its founders, both single parents themselves, were motivated by their own experiences of social isolation, financial hardship, and mental health struggles, and sought to establish a peer-led support network tailored specifically to single parents.[5]
Through initial research and pilot programmes, SPW developed a model focused on mental health, community building, and practical support. Since its inception, the organisation has expanded its reach throughout Wales, delivering in-person and online sessions that promote self-care, financial wellbeing, and parenting skills.[6][7]
Funding and financial structure
[edit]As a community interest company, Single Parents Wellbeing reinvests any surplus funds directly back into its community projects.[5] The organisation operates on a social enterprise model that prioritizes community benefit over profit generation. This financial structure enables the organisation to develop initiatives such as its “Community Pot,” which funds projects proposed by single parents themselves, ensuring that the programs remain responsive to the needs of the community.[citation needed]
Programmes and services
[edit]Single Parents Wellbeing offers a variety of programmes designed to support mental health, build community, and provide practical guidance to single parents. Regular workshops focus on areas such as self-care, parenting strategies, and financial literacy.[8][9] These sessions are complemented by peer-support groups that offer emotional and practical assistance. Such groups are designed to address the isolation commonly experienced by single parents, as reported in various mental health studies and participant testimoies.[10] In some cases, SPW has also created employment and development opportunities for those who have participated in its services, allowing them to further contribute to the organisation and their communities.[4][11][12]
Impact and recognition
[edit]SPW has worked in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation on various projects aimed at supporting single-parent families. One such collaboration, the Creating Connections programme, focuses on peer-led self-management and mental health support. An independent evaluation by the Mental Health Foundation reported that SPW’s work was effective in reducing loneliness and improving emotional wellbeing for participants.[6] The organisation has also taken part in national awareness campaigns such as Children’s Mental Health Week and World Mental Health Day, using these platforms to promote its services and raise funds.[13] SPW has received significant media attention for its contributions to improving the lives of single parents in Wales. Co-founder Amy Holland has shared her personal experience with mental health recovery and single parenthood, crediting self-care and peer support as transformative.[3] WalesOnline have featured stories from single parents who have benefited from SPW’s work, highlighting the challenges of isolation, stigma, and economic hardship while recognising SPW’s role in helping participants build resilience and hope.[11][14]
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Also abbreviated as SPW
References
[edit]- ^ Worrell, Katie (20 December 2023). "'We are enough': Single parents and the pressure of the perfect family Christmas". The Cardiffian. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
- ^ "SINGLE PARENTS WELLBEING CIC overview - Find and update company information". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ^ a b Richardson, Lauren (8 February 2021). "Amy Holland: For me, Self-Care Saved my Life". Happiful. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ^ a b Jenkins, Marina (8 January 2024). "Former homeless single mum becomes head of Welsh charity which 'saved' her life". ITV Wales News.
- ^ a b "Why is SPW a CIC and What Is a CIC?". Single Parents Wellbeing. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ^ a b Fisher, Jackie; Burchett, Nicole (October 2022). "Single Parents Wellbeing Evaluation" (PDF). Mental Health Foundation.
- ^ "Welsh social enterprise looks to support single parents on World Mental Health Day". News from Wales. 9 October 2021.
- ^ "Our Holistic Approach to Wellbeing- Empowering Single Parents". Single Parents Wellbeing. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ^ Wightwick, Abbie (23 June 2022). "The two single mums helping thousands of others like themselves". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ^ "Rachel's story: the loneliness of living as a single mum". Mental Health Foundation. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ^ a b Wightwick, Abbie (13 March 2022). "'I got pregnant at 14 and had my daughter when I was 15'". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ^ "Talia's story: my experiences of loneliness and anxiety as a young mum". Mental Health Foundation. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ^ "Welsh social enterprise raises money as part of Children's Mental Health Week to help single parents bond with their children aged 10-18". News from Wales. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ Wightwick, Abbie (13 October 2019). "Lonely, hard work and empowering - the truth about being a single parent". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-02-06.