I want to start a lone parents group

[Mondaybaby]

For a while now I have been thinking of setting up a local group for single / lone parents. I am a lone mum to my dd, 21 months, and I am sure that there must be more out there in my local area. I live in north London, N2, and would love to meet up at the weekend with others. The weekends for me are the hardest days of the week for obvious reasons and I guess others in my position would feel the same. The thing is I have never organised anything like this before and I am not entirely too sure where to start in terms of publicising and other issues. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Are there any other N2, N10 or other locals who would be interested in meeting up?

Hello Monday, I have PMed you.

Hi Monday - I am also an N2 single mum - well have a bf (I think ..) but am often around on weekends and find them and holidays hard going at times so would be interested. You can PM me if you get something arranged. Have you thought about using the Archer/putting up signs in some of the cafes etc?

Maybe a meet at the EF carnival or something - or a picnic in Cherry Tree one Sunday afternoon?

Hello Mzdemeanour, thanks for your reply. I will pm you now.

This is a fab idea. Its a shame I live so far away :(
Good luck ladies :)

I think it's an excellent idea! Will PM you

Hi there, also think this is a great idea... Will PM you now (and hope I'm not too late!)

I haven't been involved with them yet, but I know Gingerbread helps single parents to set up groups, you could try contacting them. I think there's an existing group in Highgate. Good luck.

Thanks for your PM zonedout - you are not too late as the group is in the embryo stage of development at the moment. I met with AllOtherNickNames today and we chatted about setting up a group. I have PM'd you.
Thanks for the info haringeymum. I didn't know that Gingerbread helped to set up local groups. I will investigate that further.

I would definitely be interested. I'm in w14, but don't mind a trip. I have a 6 year old boy.

I was involved in a Gingerbread group a while ago. You need references and a CRB check. Also, a secretary, a chairperson and a person who deals with the finances. They are quite stringent about these things. Oh and somewhere to hold meetings obviously :D

I run a single parent holiday group on Meet Up....worth having a look at the Meet Up site...its great for organising Meet Up's ...there are a few single parent groups on their already including one in London....my group is One Plus - you can PM me for link if you are interested because I'm not allowed to advertise it on Mumsnet but most of the holidays are geared for children 5 years plus....we are just back from Spain and struggling to come to terms with the weather having enjoyed 30 degrees plus last week..... We are growing rapidly and have 200 plus members now!

Hi there! That holiday group sounds amazing, mind sending me the url?

The problem with meetup is that it's a paying service. In the end we've decided to set up a facebook group, which is free.

Facebook works well.....and if you post on GB to let everyone know that there is a page for that area that also helps.... when you have enough members it maybe worth looking at Meet Up again because it works so well ...the members may not mind paying £1 if they get some benefit from the group...

I've sent you the link to the holiday group....its really took off in the last 6 months and members are advertising their own holidays now....I organise about 10 each year from cheap and cheerful breaks costing £30 to holidays abroad that cost allot more but are still affordable...but they are all fairly small with up to 30 people which is a nice size and gives everyone the opportunity to mix.....

Hi Lottysmum - yes the holiday group sounds great. I will pm you too.
Kalistella, I will pm you with the details of the facebook group.

Thanks :)