Your Money

1. Are all Citizens Advice bureaux across the country involved in Horizons Your Money?

   
   

   There are twelve bureaux directly involved in the programme located in: the Midlands, Cardiff, East London and Essex, the North West and North East. For more details click to see participating bureaux. These twelve bureaux are responsible for the programme in their areas but if you live outside these areas you will still get ‘money related’ advice at your local CAB. Contact details for your local CAB can be found in the Yellow Pages and on www.adviceguide.org.uk.

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2. Is childcare provided for people to attend the training sessions?

   
   

   Childcare may be available for the group sessions. Please contact the bureaux for further details.

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3. Is the Your Money programme open to anyone?

   
   

   The programme is specifically for lone parents bringing up children on their own.

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4. Does the programme cost anything?

   
   

   No, it is completely free.

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5. Can I get one-to-one advice?

   
   

   Yes, you can access individual support around specific money problems you are experiencing.

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6. I’m worried about my debts, is there anywhere else I can get help?

   
   

   Yes, the Citizens Advice website provides some useful advice on dealing with debt.

   
   

   www.adviceguide.org.uk

   
   

   National Debtline is extremely sympathetic towards debt related problems and has a dedicated helpline offering free, confidential and independent advice. Freephone 0808 808 4000‡ (calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers are free if made from a UK landline)

   
   

   You’ll also find the National Debtline website offers all sorts of helpful advice and information on dealing with debt and managing your money.

   
   

   www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

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Your Education

1. I know the course I want to do, how do I find out about financial support to help meet the costs?

   
   

   The good news is support is available to help low income lone parents pay for course fees and other associated costs.

   
   

   If you are trying to find out about financial support for further education contact the Learning and Skills Council.

   Tel: 0870 900 6800‡.
   Website: www.lsc.gov.uk

   
   

   If you are trying to find out about financial support for higher education contact the Student Loans Company.
   Tel: 0800 405 010‡ (calls to 0800 numbers are free if made from a UK landline).
   Website: www.slc.co.uk

   
   

   In addition, Family Action can provide information on educational trusts that may be able to help.

   To find out click on this link www.family-action.co.uk

   
   

   You can also contact Family Action on 020 7254 6251 (Tuesday – Thursday, 2pm – 4pm only) and we’ll tell you the grants that are available.

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2. Does the Horizons Your Education grant cover other things?

   
   

   No, we have in the past awarded grants for school related activities. However, the current grants are only available to lone parents to help with fees for education and training and other directly associated costs.

   
   

   However, Family Action does provide grants to fund other essential needs.

   
   

   Almost any kind of need can be met through the wide variety of trusts administered by Family Action. Clothing, fuel bills and household needs such as beds, cookers, washing machines etc. are most commonly requested from our general grants programme.

   
   

   If you’re interested in knowing more about Family Action’s grants programme please click here.

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3. Can anyone apply?

   
   

   You must be a lone parent and applicants must be British citizens or have refugee status, indefinite leave to remain, discretionary leave to remain or have been granted humanitarian protection.

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4. When do I need to apply?

   
   

   Applications are considered monthly by Family Action. To find out how to apply and when your application needs to be completed by, please click here, How to apply.

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5. How much can I apply for?

   
   

   There is no standard grant; each applicant’s circumstances are assessed individually. The amount of the grant can vary from £500 to a maximum of £1,500 per year.

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Your Work

1. How much does it cost to participate in the Horizons Your Work programme?

   
   

   It’s totally free! Horizons can even provide support towards meals, travel and childcare costs. Further support may also be available from Job Centre Plus who recognise the Horizons programme as playing a valuable role in helping lone parents back to work.

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2. Will taking part in the Horizons Your Work programme guarantee me a job?

   
   

   We cannot guarantee you will find a job immediately but the experience you gain will certainly improve your prospects.

   
   

   Based on our experience so far, around 25% of lone parents who participate in the programme have started work within three months of the programme ending. A further 20% are looking at or have started training and around 15% are volunteering to build their experience. That’s fantastic progress in three months!

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3. How can I access affordable childcare locally?

   
   

   We can guide you about this when you call. We can also help you to pay for it during the period the course runs.

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4. How do I work out whether I’ll be better off if I go back to work?

   
   

   We’ll give you lots of help and advice on this during the course. In addition either Citizens Advice or the
   Job Centre Plus will be able to help you work out whether you’ll be better off going back to work. Or use the FSA 'Return to Work calculator' which gives you a quick idea of how it will affect you, based on returning to work for at least 16 hours a week.

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5. Do I need to have any qualifications to participate in Horizons Your Work programme?

   
   

   No, formal qualifications aren’t necessary, just a desire to try to move into employment in the near future.

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6. What is happening near me?

   
   

   A. Horizons Your Work programmes are run in East London, Northampton, Liverpool, Teesside and Glasgow, if you want to know exactly when courses are scheduled to take place then click here.

   
   

   If there aren’t any programmes running near you, check at your local Job Centre Plus to find out if there are any similar programmes running in your local area.

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Other support available

1. Where can I find more general help and advice on being a lone parent?

   
   

   Family life can be challenging and difficult for parents and carers. Parentline Plus is a national charity providing parent to parent support and aims to help parents so that they can do their best for their children. If you need a listening ear, Parentline 0808 800 2222‡, is free from landlines and most mobile networks and available 24 hours, seven days a week. You can also get a wealth of information and tips via their website,

   www.parentlineplus.org.uk and talk to other parents in the same situation on the message boards.

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2. Who can give me advice on housing?

   
   

   Shelter is a charity that works specifically to help with homelessness and bad housing. They give helpful advice and information and support people with housing needs. To find out more click www.shelter.org.uk.

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