[3] Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, the charity worked to provide practical advice and assistance to single parents.
[4] The charity set up finance education schemes and training programmes to help single parents find a place in the new economy.
Following the breakdown of her marriage, Tessa Fothergill, a single mother living in London with her two children and struggling with financial difficulties and isolation, had the idea of establishing a self-help group for others in the same position.
An article in the Sunday Times brought hundreds of letters from others in a similar position and led to a meeting at her flat in January 1970 attended by some 10 to 15 people.
Initially the base of the incipient national body was Mim Harper’s flat and her telephone was the main contact point for people seeking advice or wishing to become members.
Both women had a lot of contact with the media from the start, appearing in radio and television programmes and featuring in newspaper articles.
Three of these people, Clare Jacobs and Gail and Fred Guest, produced a large collection of information for printed leaflets and other very helpful data and facts.
At the first AGM in the Autumn of 1971 a National Committee was elected, with Gela Day becoming Chairman and Clare Jacobs confirmed as Treasurer.
Others involved in national activities in the early years were Mike Stabler, Tony Barnes, Judy Chester and Sandra and Cyril Smith.
A huge amount of legal advice was given in his spare time by Charters Macdonald Brown, a young lawyer.
However, eventually the organisation was put on a much sounder footing when what was at that time known as the Joseph Rowntree Social Service Trust offered the use of an office at 9 Poland Street in London’s Soho free of charge.
She was followed by Sheila Steadman and Chrissie Dixon, and later Janet Hadley as Information Officer and Ruth Cohen as Groups Coordinator.
(3) Submitting evidence to the Finer Committee on One-Parent Families, under the guidance of Cyril Smith, a university academic and the chairman of the policy subcommittee.
This evidence was published by Gingerbread in “One-Parent Families: A Finer Future?” (4) Attempting to become a registered charity, with pro bono assistance from Malcolm Bolton, a solicitor.
[12] The confidential helpline is staffed by expert advisers who are trained to give guidance on practical matters to do with money, benefits, employment issues and family law.
The advice covers areas including child maintenance, tax credits and steps to take when a relationship ends.