While there are countless challenges facing single parents, this community initiative in Wales is offering support and connection, to ensure no one feels they have to do it alone

“At Single Parents Wellbeing, we believe that no parent should feel alone,” says director Rachel Brydon. And for the approximate two million single parents across the UK, who, according to the 2021 ONS Census, are less likely to be working and more likely to have a bad, or very bad, health status, support is crucial.

That’s where community-led organisations like Single Parents Wellbeing (SPW) come in. The Cardiff-based community interest company initially started a walking group – designed to offer a practical solution for the loneliness and stigma, and resulting profound mental health impact, so often felt within the community – by co-founders Rachel Cule and Amy Holland.

Now, the team has a regular, and varied, programme of events and workshops. But events aren’t simply designed for single parents — they’re designed with them, ensuring they reflect the true needs of the community.

For example, its Connecting Creatively project offers free and low-cost workshops where parents and kids can paint, draw, or express themselves side-by-side. And with a summary of major cohort studies, conducted by University College London and published in 2023, noting that cultural activities like these can halve an adult’s risk of developing depression, lead to improved wellbeing, and lower the risk of loneliness and developing chronic pain, it highlights just how powerful these experiences can be – not only as a way to bond, but as a tool for supporting mental and physical health.

But it’s also important for single parents to get access to activities that don’t involve their children, helping them maintain a sense of identity and belonging outside of their role as caregivers. Whether it’s a workshop for mums going through menopause, or a grief circle for those experiencing bereavement, SPW offers a variety of spaces for those who often feel left behind.

“When many people think of single parents, the image is often one of struggle,” director Rachel Brydon says. “We’re here to change that narrative – to show that single parents are strong, capable, and thriving together.”

Sharing spaces where single parents can evolve at their own pace is a cornerstone of SPW’s mission, and this is seen clearly in their volunteer programme, where parents are trained to run local meetups. With regular one-to-one check-ins and monthly in-person meetings, volunteers are nurtured to build self-confidence, develop new skills, and increase employability.

But this isn’t just about plastering over the problems that single parent families face; it’s about standing up for the community as a whole, which is why SPW plays an active role in campaigning for change. From lobbying for the introduction of ‘support bubbles’ for single parent households during the pandemic to partnering with TPAS Cymru to advocate for flooring provision in new social housing tenancies, the team is passionate about seeing the lived realities of single parents represented in policy decisions.

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With lived experience embedded in the staff and volunteer infrastructure, SPW is uniquely placed to offer events and services that address the specific needs of the many families they serve. Every detail is carefully considered, with organisers well aware of the practical resources required for adults to make time to attend events that support their mental health. Single parent Rachael experienced this first-hand when she attended a sound bath session, where free childcare was provided alongside the main event.

“I had been feeling utterly lost and pretty frightened about the future,” says Rachael. “My faith in others – especially myself – has been damaged, and it took a lot to arrive [at the sound bath].

“I was greeted with kindness, warmth, and immediate acceptance. I was offered a safe space, and care for my little son, who is only three. The sound bath was a beautiful experience and one that I would not have prioritised for myself, even if I had the means to pay for it. [...] I felt held, seen, and quiet. It was the first moment I had had away from my son in months, and so even the benefit of that, without all the other lovely stuff, was profound.”

Now, the community is taking to the road, with its recently launched Connection Cafe on Wheels – a colourful, volunteer-led, van that serves tea, coffee, and conversation. “This initiative gets exactly to the heart of SPW values and aims: a friendly non-intrusive way of making contact with us, while having a cuppa and a chat,” says director Rachel Brydon. “If you’re feeling outnumbered at the side of the sports field during a match, and we pull up, you know you’ll have a friendly ear and an understanding chat.”

For Naomi, a mum of two, finding SPW was life-changing. “It gave me community when I felt like I had none,” she says. “Being part of SPW has shown me that being a single parent isn’t something to be ashamed of – it’s something to be proud of.”