http://www.opfs.org.uk/ events

OPFS Updates The 101 Project at 30 The 101 Project has been operating in Dundee for 30 years, under a few different names. We opened our doors on the 13th January 1984, delivering localised services in the then highly deprived Whitfield area of Dundee. See more about the work of the 101 projecthere. Money Advice Services - Glasgow We are now doing outreach work with Pollok credit union in the Silverburn shopping centre on Thursdays between 9am - 4pm and Scotcash, High Street, Glasgow on Wednesdays between 10am - 4pm. To make an appointment call Anne or Matthew on 0141 847 0444 or email Choices. Lone Parent Information Hubs - Glasgow We have Advice & Information Hubs throughout Glasgow. Lone Parents will be able to access help, information, support and advice with confidence building, money and debt advice, work preparation training, access to local resources and welfare rights services. We have a crèche for children who are not yet at school and can provide travel expenses as required. Please book your child's crèche space in advance. See our facebook page for dates and venues. Could you be a Lone Parent Champion? There's a new and exciting training opportunity being introduced through One Parent Families Scotland in Glasgow. Lone Parent Champion Training We're looking to recruit 12 local single parent volunteers to get involved in our Lone Parent Champion training, this is a 3-week course (2 days per week from 10am - 2pm) aimed at empowering individuals to champion the rights of single parents regarding the changes to the benefit system and welfare reform. If you would like more details see our website or email Charlene Fleming. Us Together - Supporting Scotland's Children and Fathers Children and Fathers Celebrated the Commonwealth Games with a Summer BBQ. On the 24th July nearly 100 children and fathers from our Us Together and Edinburgh Lone Fathers Project came together for a BBQ and some mini Commonwealth Games activities. We travelled from our projects in Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk and North Lanarkshire to Beecraigs Country Park in West Lothian where we enjoyed good food, sunshine and games. See more at  Us Together. Children and Dad's Cooking in Edinburgh We often hear how lone parents, male and female, struggle to make ends meet since the introduction of the welfare reforms, so here at Edinburgh, the Us Together Project decided to run some cooking on a budget classes for fathers and their children. This idea came about after a discussion with some of the fathers we currently support. One father who has recently completed a cookery course had expressed an interest in running these sessions. The kind people at Craigroyston Community High School let us use their wonderful kitchen facilities. Edinburgh Dad's Club The dads of the Edinburgh Lone Fathers Project have continued to be involved with Bookbugs and enjoy lots of reading with their young daughters and sons. This has included a brilliant 'Pirate Pack Day' in which we built a pirate ship and sang lots of see shanties, as well being invited by the Scottish Book Trust to help them nominate which books will go into the hundreds of thousands of Bookbugs packs in 2015. Nobel Peace Laureate, Leymah Gbowee, Visits the 101 Project On 19 June, the 101 Project in Dundee was honoured to be visited by the inspirational Leymah Gbowee. 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah is a Liberian peace activist, trained social worker, and women's rights advocate. Leymah has worked tirelessly to promote the rights of woman and girls in Africa and across the world. Read more on ourwebsite.   Policy Updates Does Voting Improve Lives? Marion Davis from One Parent Families Scotland argues that participation in elections would increase if inequality was tackled. Read more at thirdforcenews 'Flawed' Work Programme Contracts Costing Millions Tens of millions of pounds could be paid in bonuses to underperforming contractors responsible for the government's flagship back-to-work scheme, a watchdog has warned. Flaws in contracts mean the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has to pay incentives for the Work Programme to even the worst-performing providers, the National Audit Office (NAO) said. Read more here. Child Maintenance Reform The second phase of the reforms went live on the 30th June. This phase introduces changes to legislation to allow charging for services on Child Maintenance Service cases, as well as legislation to enable the start of closing existing Child Support Agency (CSA) cases.   Partnerships & Campaigns Family Decision Making Service It is a partnership between One Parent Families Scotland, ParentLine Scotland and Scottish Child Law Centre. If you are separating or recently separated and require information, advice or support with any of the issues you are facing you can contact oremail a rights worker on our free Lone Parent Helpline on 0808 801 0323, Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4pm. See more at Family Decision Making.   Useful Publications & Resources New Further and Higher Education Factsheets Thinking of going back to college or university? If you are a single parent who wants to get back into education then our new packs, updated for the current academic year, are for you. 'Further Education' and 'Training and Funding for Higher Education' cover the financial support available to students at both levels. Both packs provide information on help with childcare and how student grants and loans impact on housing benefit. Download from our website or call the lone parent helpline on 0808 801 0323 for a copy.   Events Everything You Want to Know about the Referendum but Were Afraid to Ask 18th September is the day when you'll face the biggest political decision of your lifetime. Are you prepared for the referendum? If not, don't worry academics from the Future of the UK and Scotland programme are here to help. Details of the event.

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