When asked our community if they were worried about how Coronavirus was going to affect them in particular as single parents – 93% said yes.

The government has just announced measures to support small businesses and people who can no longer go to work due to the virus. This is a great start, but schools and childcare centres around the UK and Ireland have closed and we’ve been advised to stay away from elderly or at-risk relatives – this is causing strain for all parents, but will especially impact single parents.

Over the past week, we’ve seen a spike in new frolos joining the community and an increase in the number of posts too. It’s clear that single parents need support now more than ever, and we’re determined to do what we can to help protect the wellbeing of our community.

Here’s what we have planned:

Introducing virtual meet-ups

While we’re all stuck inside, the online community element of Frolo is going to take centre-stage. Though it’s a shame we can’t meet up for coffees, bowling, or to browse around art galleries at the moment, we can still be there for one another thanks to the wonders of modern technology.

We will be hosting regular meet-ups via Zoom (a video meeting platform) to let frolos check in and chat from all over the UK and Ireland. We’ve had two virtual meet-ups so far, hosted by lovely frolos called Sejal and Stephanie. They’re great fun and definitely help stave off that feeling of loneliness that can creep in after the kids go to bed.

We’ve got lots more planned – including a pub quiz on 3 April and a special Single Parents’ Day (21 March) virtual get together. Check the app for more details!

If you’d like to host a virtual meet-up – just email community@frolo.co.uk or post on the app feed and tag Team Frolo!

Encouraging frolos to reach out via the online community on the app

Whether you’re a veteran Frolo poster, or you’ve not yet plucked up the courage to post, now is the perfect time to get involved on the feed. It’s a great place to share ideas, ask for advice on specific issues, chat to frolos from all over the UK and Ireland, or even just have a bit of a vent.

There are lots of different way to be a frolo but, crucially, every member of our community understands what it means to be a single parent and they will understand your worries, questions, and concerns better than anyone at the moment.

We’re also harnessing the power of the community and encouraging positivity on the feed by asking frolos to share their ideas for keeping kids occupied, advice on getting work done from home, self-care tips, and more, as part of our #IsolationInspiration challenge. Head to the feed to get stuck in, or take a look at the resources we’ve gathered together so far here. There’s also a Pinterest board coming soon.

Providing expert content within the app  

Single parents have specific needs and will be feeling the effects of social distancing in different ways from two-parent families. As part of our efforts to support them in any way we can, we’re gathering together useful, expert content on a whole range of topics.

Some of these videos will deliver practical advice on batch cooking, ideas for keeping kids entertained at home, and tips from financial experts to help you ride out the situation. Others will be focussed on protecting the mental and emotional wellbeing of you and your children as you navigate this period of social distancing. Keep your eyes peeled for guided meditations and mindfulness sessions on the feed!

If you have specific questions or concerns that you’d like to be addressed, email us on community@frolo.co.uk and we will do our best to find an expert who can answer them.

Introducing a group messaging function within the app

This feature has been in the pipeline for a while, following feedback we got from the Frolo community. However, social distancing and the risk of single parents feeling isolated have made this a more urgent priority for us.

We’re working with our tech team to get this up and running as soon as possible – expect to see Frolo group chats on all sorts of fun and interesting topics going live in April!

Doing what we can to support self-employed and business owner frolos

Lots of single parents are self-employed or run their own businesses. Normally, this is a great option for single parents as it means setting your own hours and working flexibly around your family. However, at the moment, small businesses, freelancers, and self-employed frolos are really feeling the pinch.

If you’re a small business owner, or you’re self-employed and have an idea about how the Frolo community can help keep you going, reach out to us on community@frolo.co.uk – we’d love to hear it.

We’re in this together.

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