Gingerbread Group Lead (Delivery Partner)

Gingerbread, the national charity for single parent families have an exciting new volunteering opportunity within the corporate sector for people to use their volunteering hours to increase the wellbeing of the single parent workforce by developing and running an effective single parent group within their organisation.  

The aims of a single parent group are to develop meaningful connections and friendships between single parents and to facilitate access to peer guidance and advice.   Gingerbread has substantial data which demonstrates the positive impact and outcomes these groups have on loneliness, isolation, stress and the overall wellbeing of single parents. 

As a group lead, you’ll play a vital role in creating a welcoming, supportive space, both in-person and online where single parents can connect, share experiences, and access valuable resources.

Your role is to set up and run a group within your organisation, facilitating monthly in-person meetups and ensuring ongoing engagement with group members through the online Gingerbread community.

Groups leads (delivery partner) support single parents within an organisation to make meaningful connections and friendships.

Gingerbread recommends that Gingerbread groups meet for an hour once a month as a minimum.

The format, frequency and location should be decided by the group lead to suit the needs of group members.

Groups leads (delivery partner) will also need to engage with group members within the online Gingerbread community by welcoming new members, answering questions, signposting to relevant information and sharing upcoming Gingerbread events.

In-person or digital meetups with a format, frequency and location to suit organisation and Group Lead. Gingerbread recommends meeting for an hour once every month.

Creating engagement within the group on the Gingerbread Community, such as posting relevant information, welcoming new members, answering questions and signposting to monthly workshops and sessions on themes such as wellbeing; mindfulness; CV building; self-compassion; parenting; relationships; and finances.

After the initial set-up of your group there would be a 1.5 hours per month time commitment depending on your group size and frequency of meetups (1.5 hours is based on a 45-minute monthly meeting with 45 minutes of admin time).

• Set up a Gingerbread Group on the App using Gingerbread templates
• With support from the Gingerbread, adapt the Gingerbread Group Model to the needs of your specific single parent community using a coproduction approach
• Undertake induction, safeguarding training and any further training as required
• Promote the group to single parents within the delivery partner
• Welcome new members into the group
• Arrange and promote meetups, either in-person or online
• Share information from Gingerbread to group members
• Promote engagement and communications between single parents - including facilitating regular online connection through the App, encouraging members to attend Gingerbread workshops
• Signpost group members to Gingerbread information pages for any formal information, advice or guidance
• Follow your organisation’s safeguarding policy
• Share safeguarding concerns with the Groups Manager at Gingerbread when they arise.
• Maintain communication with the Groups Manager at Gingerbread, informing them of your activities, any concerns or support needed
• Attend drop-in support sessions and/or online national volunteer meetings (optional)
• Share monitoring and evaluation data every 2 months with Gingerbread and participate in occasional focus groups
• Contribute to the promotion and sharing of best practice with the wider sector in occasional reviews and/or sector meetings organised by Gingerbread
• Follow our policies as outlined in training and toolkit (bar Safeguarding which should be your internal procedure): Code of Conduct ; Community Guidelines ; Confidentiality Policy ; Equity and Inclusion Policy ; Health and Safety Policy ; Safeguarding Policy ; Whistleblowing Policy

Skills

• A single parent employed by a company
• Enthusiastic
• Enjoys talking to people
• Empathetic and understanding of single parents’ experiences
• Willing to take part in an induction, safeguarding training and additional training opportunities
• Ability to use online platforms such as email, Teams and social media
• An inclusive and non-judgemental approach
• Reliable, well-organised and collaborative
• Passionate and enthusiastic about creating a fairer and more inclusive society
• Able to embrace Gingerbread’s values · Able to commit 1.5 hours a month to running a Gingerbread group