worried about a single Dad is there anywhere I could get help for him ?

jopsey

I have a neighbour who is a single Dad to 2 young boy's he has recently been in hospital and had quite a big operation (children went to stay with relatives ) he look's so poorly and you can see is in a lot of pain and is really struggling to look after the boy's ,I have helped picking them up from school but due to my own family problems I am unable to help as much as I would like .
His family all live away(the children's Mum live's in another country and has no plan's to return ) and is basically on his own, is there any agency's I could put him in touch with ?

ses6jwg

You could try Gingerbread

http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/

gingin_2

Do you know of any other parents at the school, or does he?

I know when parents in my children's classes have been seriously ill, parents have rallied round (and the school were very supportive too). This included child care, preparing and delivering meals - it's surprising what people will do if they know someone needs help, especially when children are involved.

It's kind of you to help out.

MrsManda

I think it's good of you to be concerned and willing to help where you can - it shows that despite all the media stories, people are not as uncaring as they're made out to be,

It's important that he lets the school know if he hasn't already because as gingin said, they can be a great source of support.

Gingerbread can be a good source of information and support.

Do you know much about his ill health?
Depending on how long it's likely to take to recover it may be worth him speaking to social services to see if they can arrange some temporary support.

flutterby_lil

What a lovely caring person you are. Is there a local sure start who have a home start attached to it or operate separatley? Home start help people out who are struggling, often just even for moral support, helping with shopping, being a companion. Maybe they might be a good place to start for him.

Not sure but could maybe jobcentre plus help too, or the local CAPSS agency, operated through the council, works closely with social services - not sure if this is just something in my area or nationwide.

Good luck, hope he gets the help he needs for the boys.

flora48

Try Home Start. I know of a situation where a young father was struggling and was helped by Home Start so much so that he is now one of the very few male volunteers.

xxlouisexx56

What a lovely person you are.
I dont even know this man and i really feel for him.
I was a single mum when i caught meningitis. My recovery was very long and i also had a 3 year old to look after. Just having someone to take her to playgroup would of been a big help

ska_lover

xxlouisexx56 wrote: »

What a lovely person you are.
I dont even know this man and i really feel for him.
I was a single mum when i caught meningitis. My recovery was very long and i also had a 3 year old to look after. Just having someone to take her to playgroup would of been a big help

I know what you mean, when i was a single mother, I had two slipped disks and degenerating disks which meant I was on morphine and literally could not move. I was in that much agony, had it gone on much longer I would have taken my own life.

We only managed to get shopping in, because I explained to my then 9 year old son how to do on line shopping, I could not even sit upright to do it myself, and he ordered ready meals he could warm up himself and other essentials. I lost four stone as most of the time I was in such agony I wouldnt eat and noone really noticed that I wasn't.

Do you know who offered a speck of assistance? No one. Single mothers as females do not get a second thought. Time after time I would lay there in such pain thinking of taking all my tablets in one go.

If it is a bloke, peoples whole attitude changes.

Mojisola

ska_lover wrote: »

I know what you mean, when i was a single mother, I had two slipped disks and degenerating disks which meant I was on morphine and literally could not move. I was in that much agony, had it gone on much longer I would have taken my own life.

If it is a bloke, peoples whole attitude changes.

Who did you ask for help?

liana_y2kuk

Wow ska lover there is a lot of bitterness in that post. Im not sure that its what the OP is looking for though. Maybe it would be better suited to the vent forum.

jackyann

Gingerbread & Home Start are excellent but not universal.
You don't say what ages the children are - if one or both are pre-school, then suggest he contacts the Health Visitor (GP surgery will know how to find her). In all but the most remote areas there will be a Sure-Start or Children's Centre, and they are very good at sign-posting to services.
If one or both are school age, there is often a family worker attached to the school who can help, failing that, the School Nurse or Education Welfare Officer (if a parent is struggling, good to inform them, they can be very helpful)