18 March 1999 Edition
Realities for the young single mother
By Yamila Petruschansky
Domestic violence, teenager pregnancy, unemployment and the lack of child care are some problems which women in the community face as an integral part of their lives.
According to a `Northern Ireland' Women's Aid report, a minimum of 628 children and more than 400 women were subjected to domestic violence, although the real figure is probably much higher because many cases remain unreported.
Janice Quinn from the Ardoyne Women's Centre describes it as a ``serious'' problem. She said, ``we offer support and a safe place where women who suffer domestic violence can come. We offer training and courses in self-esteem to help women develop so they can deal with the situation.''
Lone parents represent a growing number of households in the North and current indications are that the situation is set to increase in the coming years.
In a report commissioned by Gingerbread, it was stated that in 1990/91 lone-parents represented 19% of all families. In 1994/95 it was 25%. Census figures indicate a 7% annual increase between 1987-1992 and using this estimation the number of lone parents in the year 2001 would be 92,000.
Nowadays, the Six Counties has one of the highest proportions of lone-parent families in the European Community. What is worse, we also have one of highest rates of young lone mothers who are unemployed or living in poverty.
According to the Gingerbread report on Belfast, Newry and Mourne, 90% of young lone mothers in both areas were living on £100 a week or less.
Sixty-nine percent of respondents in Belfast and 70.8% of respondents in Newry and Mourne had previously been in paid employment, but only 14% in Belfast and 4.2% in Newry and Mourne were remained employed.
Roisin Trainor, herself an 18-year-old single-mother from West Belfast, told AP/RN, ``it's a vicious circle. When you have a child at 16 or 17, you don't have qualifications or the experience to get a job. And even if you do, it will not pay enough for childminding and living expenses. So you have to claim benefits.''
The rate of benefits available depends on age and the specific situation. Younger claimants receive less than older ones, a situation made worse as younger parents often still live with their parents.
But single-mothers need more than monetary assistance. Becoming a mother when you are of school age is a big step and extra emotional, educational and developmental support is essential.
Mary O'Rawe, creche coordinator at the Falls Women's Centre highlighted the importance of affordable and accessible child care facilities in a woman's life.
She said, ``we have projects like the Bernados courses but being able to offer childminding services is absolutely essential. It is impossible to encourage women if they don't have child care.''
Continuing O'Rawe said, ``the problem is that there are practically no cheap creches, private ones can cost anything starting at around £90 per week, at the Fall Women's Centre we offer a creche for £10 a day.''
Groups that have been working for the development of the community, specifically in attempting to empower women to take part in training to improve their job prospects are facing a serious funding crisis. A situation not helped by the ending of the ACE scheme. The money that once came from the European Fund for Ireland has also finished.
O'Rawe said, ``our aims, our women's facilities and our creche facilities support many other community based projects. But many projects have had to be suspended because there is no money. We are losing two creche workers and two administrators.''
Meanwhile the £15 million promised to transform the life chances of younger women through better access to family support, health information and early education through the Sure Start Programme has now been reallocated to other departments.
Domestic violence, teenager pregnancy, unemployment and the lack of child care are some problems which women in the community face as an integral part of their lives.
According to a `Northern Ireland' Women's Aid report, a minimum of 628 children and more than 400 women were subjected to domestic violence, although the real figure is probably much higher because many cases remain unreported.
Janice Quinn from the Ardoyne Women's Centre describes it as a ``serious'' problem. She said, ``we offer support and a safe place where women who suffer domestic violence can come. We offer training and courses in self-esteem to help women develop so they can deal with the situation.''
Lone parents represent a growing number of households in the North and current indications are that the situation is set to increase in the coming years.
In a report commissioned by Gingerbread, it was stated that in 1990/91 lone-parents represented 19% of all families. In 1994/95 it was 25%. Census figures indicate a 7% annual increase between 1987-1992 and using this estimation the number of lone parents in the year 2001 would be 92,000.
Nowadays, the Six Counties has one of the highest proportions of lone-parent families in the European Community. What is worse, we also have one of highest rates of young lone mothers who are unemployed or living in poverty.
According to the Gingerbread report on Belfast, Newry and Mourne, 90% of young lone mothers in both areas were living on £100 a week or less.
Sixty-nine percent of respondents in Belfast and 70.8% of respondents in Newry and Mourne had previously been in paid employment, but only 14% in Belfast and 4.2% in Newry and Mourne were remained employed.
Roisin Trainor, herself an 18-year-old single-mother from West Belfast, told AP/RN, ``it's a vicious circle. When you have a child at 16 or 17, you don't have qualifications or the experience to get a job. And even if you do, it will not pay enough for childminding and living expenses. So you have to claim benefits.''
The rate of benefits available depends on age and the specific situation. Younger claimants receive less than older ones, a situation made worse as younger parents often still live with their parents.
But single-mothers need more than monetary assistance. Becoming a mother when you are of school age is a big step and extra emotional, educational and developmental support is essential.
Mary O'Rawe, creche coordinator at the Falls Women's Centre highlighted the importance of affordable and accessible child care facilities in a woman's life.
She said, ``we have projects like the Bernados courses but being able to offer childminding services is absolutely essential. It is impossible to encourage women if they don't have child care.''
Continuing O'Rawe said, ``the problem is that there are practically no cheap creches, private ones can cost anything starting at around £90 per week, at the Fall Women's Centre we offer a creche for £10 a day.''
Groups that have been working for the development of the community, specifically in attempting to empower women to take part in training to improve their job prospects are facing a serious funding crisis. A situation not helped by the ending of the ACE scheme. The money that once came from the European Fund for Ireland has also finished.
O'Rawe said, ``our aims, our women's facilities and our creche facilities support many other community based projects. But many projects have had to be suspended because there is no money. We are losing two creche workers and two administrators.''
Meanwhile the £15 million promised to transform the life chances of younger women through better access to family support, health information and early education through the Sure Start Programme has now been reallocated to other departments.