News 11


Independent and proud I


Nicola Watson on her life as a lone parent


BECAME a single parent after the birth of my second child. My relationship with my partner fell


apart very slowly over time. Being a parent is incredibly tough – and suddenly, instead of two of us, I was on my own. There’s less time to spend with my daughters when I am working, and it’s difficult to pay equal attention to them. I’ve also felt isolated and lonely


because between work and parenting I have very little time to see friends or look after myself. But I honestly prefer things this way. Being on my own has given me more independence, more confidence and a strong relationship with my daughters. Families headed by a single parent come in all shapes and sizes - single mothers, single fathers, young parents, older parents, even grandparents.


HAPPY FAMILY: Lone parent Nicola Watson with daughters Holly and Lilly


What we have in common is the


responsibility of managing caring for children, keeping up with bills, looking after the house and getting out to work. It’s harder to make ends meet with one income. I really wanted to work but it was very difficult to get a job I could fit around my responsibilities at home. And I’m not the only one. Just under half of all lone parents in Glasgow aren’t in work. When you think about the barriers


– childcare, lack of time, the fact that women still earn less than men – you can understand why. I had a gap on my CV because I gave up work when I first became pregnant. I struggled to get interviews because I didn’t have as much recent work experience as other people. Childcare is another huge issue – the costs can be really high – and lots of women really struggle to get work because of this. I work round-the-clock to make a


better life for my family and to give them the love, opportunities and experiences they deserve - and I do it by myself.


I think I, and the thousands of others


in my position, deserve a pat on the back for that. Wheatley Group, GHA’s parent company, works closely with


i


One Parent Families Scotland to help lone parents. Phone 0808 801 0323 or join the conversation using #ProudSingleParents on social media.


Apprentices are a cut above the rest


TENANTS will see some new faces around their communities – as our new environmental apprentices get started. We took on 45 new apprentices earlier this year as part of a £100m plan to keep communities clean, green and safe over the next five years. As well as getting a wage and full


training in customer service, the new recruits will get a qualification at the end of the two-year scheme. Most of the 45 young people are


tenants of either GHA or our other partner organisations. Darren McCarthy, from Carntyne,


pictured in the middle of the front row, is one of those apprentices.


He said: “When our housing officer told me about the apprenticeships, I was excited. “I’ve always been interested in fixing


up gardens and outdoor areas. Now I’m looking forward to getting some formal training and qualifications to build a career in something I actually enjoy.”


theKEY - www.gha.org.uk


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