Single parents in the UK face numerous challenges, from financial difficulties to housing discrimination. However, legal and policy reform can make a significant difference. In recent years, several campaigns have emerged to address these issues and fight for equality for single parents. This post highlights some of the most impactful ongoing campaigns advocating for change.

Child Maintenance Reform

The child maintenance system has long been a source of frustration for single parents. Many experience difficulties in receiving payments consistently, with enforcement often lacking. The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is criticised for failing to take swift action against parents who do not meet their financial obligations. In many cases, single parents are left struggling to provide for their children due to unpaid maintenance.

Campaigners are calling for reforms to make the CMS more effective, including automatic deductions from salaries and tougher penalties for those who fail to pay. Stricter enforcement could reduce the financial strain on single-parent families and ensure that children receive the support they are entitled to. There is also a push for more transparency and accountability within the CMS, so that parents can track their cases more effectively and see when action will be taken against non-payers.

Improved Access to Legal Aid

Since significant cuts were made to legal aid in 2013, many single parents have struggled to access affordable legal representation, particularly in cases involving family law. Whether dealing with custody disputes, housing issues, or domestic abuse, single parents often find themselves at a disadvantage without proper legal support.

Campaigners are working to restore access to legal aid, especially for vulnerable individuals like single parents. They argue that the lack of legal aid in family courts can lead to unfair outcomes in custody arrangements or financial settlements. Ensuring that single parents can access the legal representation they need would level the playing field and give them the opportunity to fight for their rights.

Organisations and activists are also advocating for targeted funding to help single parents who are dealing with housing or employment discrimination, so they can seek justice without the added burden of legal fees.

Parental Leave and Flexible Working Rights

Balancing work and family life is a challenge for any parent, but it can be especially difficult for single parents who have sole responsibility for childcare. Current parental leave policies, which often assume the presence of two caregivers, do not fully support single-parent households.

The Flex Appeal campaign, led by Anna Whitehouse (also known as Mother Pukka), has been fighting for flexible working to become a legal right from the first day of employment. This would be life-changing for many single parents, who often need greater flexibility in their working hours to manage both their jobs and family responsibilities. The campaign advocates for more inclusive policies that support parents from the start, rather than requiring them to wait six months before they can request flexible working.

Additionally, there are calls to improve parental leave policies, particularly for single parents, who do not have the option of shared parental leave. Campaigners are pushing for extended leave tailored to the needs of sole caregivers, ensuring that single parents have adequate time to care for their children during the early months of their lives.

Campaigns Against Housing Discrimination

Housing discrimination remains a significant issue for single parents, particularly those relying on housing benefits. Many private landlords refuse to rent to single parents, often demanding higher deposits or guarantees. This makes it difficult for single parents to secure stable, affordable housing.

Campaigns are calling for stricter regulations to prevent landlords from discriminating against single parents. These campaigns advocate for equal treatment in the private rental market, as well as more support for single parents in social housing. Single-parent families often find themselves lower on housing waiting lists, despite their urgent need for accommodation. Campaigners are pushing for reforms that ensure fair access to housing for all, regardless of family structure or income source.

Support for Universal Credit Reform

Universal Credit has been a source of significant hardship for many families, and single-parent households are particularly affected. Delays in payments, sanctions, and the complicated assessment process often leave single parents without enough financial support to cover their basic living costs.

Campaigners, including groups like the Single Parent Rights campaign led by Ruth Talbot, are advocating for changes to Universal Credit that would better support single parents. Reforms include reducing the five-week wait for the first payment, increasing the child element of Universal Credit, and offering more financial assistance for working single parents. By providing greater support through Universal Credit, single parents would have a more reliable safety net to help them manage both work and family life without slipping into poverty.

Conclusion: Advocating for Change

Legal and policy campaigns are essential in addressing the challenges single parents face in the UK. From child maintenance reform to Universal Credit, these efforts are paving the way for a fairer society where single parents and their children are supported and empowered.

If you want to support these campaigns, consider getting involved by signing petitions, following campaigns like Flex Appeal or Single Parent Rights, or raising awareness on social media. Together, we can work towards a future where single parents receive the rights and protections they need.

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