It was produced by Scottish voluntary sector creatives media co-op
An international group of historians, policymakers and NGOs has launched a powerful new animation to mark Single Parents Day (21 March).
The film, Time for a New Chapter, was produced by Scottish voluntary sector creatives media co-op in collaboration with experts from the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
It is part of an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project entitled Vulnerability & One Parent Family Network, reflecting both the history and the lived experiences of single parents and showcases the pride and strength in single parenthood.
The project was co-produced with network members including Dr Janet Greenlees, reader in health history at Glasgow Caledonian University, Professor Lindsey Earner-Byrne of Trinity College Dublin, Karen Kiernan, chief executive of One Family Ireland and Terese Edwards of the National Council for Single Mothers and their Children, Australia.
The animation highlights the diverse paths to single parenthood, celebrates the resilience and pride of single parents and challenges common misconceptions.
Through its narrative, it calls on governments to help write a new chapter for single parents by developing policies that better support single parent families, including fairer social security, affordable childcare, secure housing, financial stability, and greater respect. Viewers are also encouraged to share their ideas on what the chapter should look like.
Watch the film here:
Dr Greenlees said: “This animation is a unique collaboration and highlights the historic and current transnational similarities of the challenges faced by lone parents and how it’s time for a new chapter.
“Policies that address the needs of lone parents will benefit everyone.”
Satwat Rehman, chief executive of One Parent Families Scotland, added: “One Parent Families Scotland was founded in 1944 against a backdrop of systemic cruelty when unmarried mothers had their babies forcibly taken from them for adoption.
“While society has progressed since then, as this film so beautifully illustrates, single mothers still face significant barriers.
“My hope is that this film serves as a catalyst for change – to educate and to challenge outdated perceptions and push for long-overdue equality and recognition for single parents everywhere.”
