Our Falkirk service

• We can meet with you either in your home, in our Family Centre or in a suitable place of your choice.
• We will spend time with you to address issues you are facing.
• We will support you to access other areas of our services that can help.
• Our free helpline is also available for confidential one-to-one advice and information including benefit checks. This is free to call from all mobiles and landlines Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm. Webchat is also available.
• If your child attends Slamannan Primary School, we have a Family Support Worker who works within the school. Please contact Rob Santall in the first instance.

• Living in a village can be isolating. Getting involved in groups can help you stay connected with other single parents, have fun and be part of your community.
• Family and parent-focused groups, run throughout the year, giving you a chance to chat to other parents or join in with the activities.

• Our current group is ‘Family, Food and Fun’, which offers a hearty meal followed by fun activities for the children, giving the parents a chance to chat to other parents or join in with the activities. Starting Thu 19th January and running for 6 week blocks during term time between 3.30 – 5pm. The fun takes place at the family centre and booking is essential on 01324 711 271.
• Specialist groups run throughout the year. Details of our other groups planned for Jan-Mar 2023 will be published here when confirmed.
• Outings take place during the summer holidays and at Christmas, giving you and your child a chance to socialize with other single parent families.
• Single parent forum – register with our online forum to chat with other single parents across Scotland.

• Being a single parent can be very rewarding and very challenging. Life events such as a relationship breakdown, house eviction, job loss and bereavement can lead to unmanageable increases in anxiety levels, feelings of helplessness and loneliness.
• We also know that asking for help can be hard for so many different reasons, which may include a sense of feeling judged, being viewed as not coping, experiencing feelings of guilt and shame, and sometimes thinking that our issues are not important enough.
• OPFS can help with local counselling sessions and can direct you to other services and organisations that may be of help.
• We have a health and wellbeing tool on our website called My Life and Me, that you can work through yourself or with one of our Family Support Workers.

• We offer practical support to local single parent families in need, with our school uniform and emergency supplies cupboard. These include items kindly donated to us from local businesses.
• Our Lone Parent Helpline can offer help and guidance with finance, benefit checks, income maximisation, debt, and money management. We can also assist you to find local organizations that may be able to offer help with this and  we have a debt and budget tool on our website,
• Currently we do not have any grant programmes running. Please contact our advice and information team if you need advice on money.
• Talking with other single parents can be so helpful. Register with our Single Parent Forum forum to chat with other single parents across Scotland.

• Free nursery placements for 2-year-old children in our centre, funded by Falkirk Council, runs term time, Mon-Fri 9-3pm.
  Check if you are eligible: telephone 01324 506611 or email.  See more information
• We offer whole family support for single parent families whose children attend the nursery. Please speak to Kirsty Watts our Lead Practitioner, 01324 711271

One Parents Families Scotland campaign for single parents, and your voice is critical. There are many ways to get involved:

• Attending parental participation groups.
• Joining our bank of voices who talk to representatives of the Government.
• Sharing your story (with our support) though our social media channels.
• Talking with the media about your experiences.

If you’d like to find out more, please email Martin Murray or call 01324 711271.