resources for single parents facing discrimination
Below we have outlined where you can access support/report discrimination if you are experiencing unfair treatment as a single parent.
Discrimination
The Equality Advisory Support Service runs a helpline for issues relating to equality and human rights. If you think you have been discriminated against, they may be able to assist. Their number is: 0808 800 0082.
Universal Credit conditionality
If you are facing challenges meeting the new Universal Credit 30 hour work requirements you can find out more details about how this can be tailored down, or how to appeal a decision here.
General legal advice
In England and Wales you may be entitled to free civil legal advice from the Civil Legal Advice service. More information on who they can support is available here. Or you can call them on 03453454345. If you are based in Scotland you can find more information on how to access free legal advice here. Whilst those in Northern Ireland can access information on free legal advice here.
The Law Centres Network provides advice to those who cannot afford legal support. You can contact them here.
The Citizens Advice Service provides support on legal advice as well as issues connected to employment and benefits. You can contact them here.
The Equality Advisory & Support Service provides advice if you have faced discrimination because of race, disability, sex, religious belief, age, pregnancy & maternity or sexual orientation. You can find more information and contact them here.
You can gain advice and information on what to if you have witnessed or experienced discrimination via the Equality and Human Rights Commission here.
Women can access advice on family law, criminal law, immigration law and sexual harassment at work from Rights of Women here.
If you are facing a specific issue, your MP can support you by contacting various bodies on your behalf. You can find your MP’s contact details here.
housing
For housing issues you can contact the Shelter free legal helpline here. They also have a useful page here which outlines how to deal with bans on children in private renting.
The Housing Ombudsman Service deals with complaints about registered providers of social housing and those private landlords and rental agents who have voluntarily signed up to the scheme. You can contact them, or make a complaint about a housing provider here.
If you have a complaint about a lettings agent, you can make a complaint to the Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress scheme, details of these are available here. It should be noted this is only available for those who have signed up to the scheme.
If you are based in London you can use the London Assembly’s rogue landlord checker tool to find information about a landlord, or to report a rogue landlord here.
employment
Working Families provide a free helpline on employment rights and in-work benefits. You can contact them here.
Pregnant Then Screwed run a free helpline on employment rights. You can contact them here.
If you are a member of a union, they will be able to assist you with employment issues; do contact them if you have any concerns. If you’re not in a union, you can find out more about joining one on the Trade Union Congress website, here. A union will normally only represent you on issues once you have been a member for six weeks, but do contact them to confirm if it is an existing issue.
benefits
If you have a concern around benefits, in terms of how you are being treated and also in terms of benefit entitlement and access, the Gingerbread helpline can assist. You can contact them on 0808 802 0925.
access to finance
The Financial Conduct Authority has information on how to complain if you are unhappy with a financial product or service. You can find more information here.
family law
Child Law Advice provides advice and information on child, family and education law in England via email and telephone.
family courts
If you are unhappy with how you have been treated by HM courts in the UK there are three ways this can be addressed.
In the first instance it is recommended you contact the court concerned directly.
You can make a complaint about the court concerned here.
If neither of these approaches work, you can make a complaint about the court concerned using the central government complaints system here.
You can also make a complaint about a specific judge or magistrate via the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman here.
child maintenance service
If you have issues with the Child Maintenance Service the Gingerbread helpline can assist. You can contact them on 0808 802 0925. You can also make a complaint to the Child Maintenance Service here.
fees and charges
If you believe you are being charged unfairly as a single parent family for services, entrance fees or holidays, you can take it up with the business involved. You can also tag us on twitter and use #SingleParentRights and we will support where possible.
Maternity Rights
If you are concerned about your maternity rights or the treatment you have received, you can access information and advice from Maternity Action here. You can also access your full maternity notes via PALS (The NHS Patient Advice and Liaison Service) here, they are kept on file for 25 years.
Social Care and Health Services
If you are unhappy with how you have been treated by social care and health services, you can find more information on how to address this through the Citizen’s Advice pages here.
Your Child’s education
If you are unhappy with how you have been treated by your child’s school, you can find more information on how to address this through the Citizen’s Advice pages here.
SEND support
If you need support or information regarding a child with disabilities, you can contact the charity for families with disabled children: Contact.
Race Discrimination
If you have faced race discrimination you can access information and advice on how to address this through the Citizen’s Advice pages here.
Disability Discrimination
If you have faced disability discrimination you can access information and advice on how to address this through Scope here.
join the campaign for single parent equality
We are campaigning for single parents to be added to the Equality Act to give single parents better protection in law from discrimination. You can join the growing number of people fighting against single parent discrimination in the UK by taking action today.
