The loneliness accompanying a divorce can be crippling to lone parents whose lives are turned upside down when they separate from their partner.

But a borough-wide group, Barnet Gingerbread, is there to help them get back on track.

The Barnet branch of the national Gingerbread organisation has been going for the last 26 years and is now based in Friern Park, North Finchley. The group aims to support single parents all over the borough and get them back on their feet after their confidence and self-esteem take a knock when they get divorced.

Volunteer Jan Palmer said some of the people who have wanted to join the group have been suicidal. "They come here with no hope and then within a few months they are back on track. We are here so that people can make friends and can get help, support and information," she said.

Jan joined the group 12 years ago after moving to London with her young son when she got divorced. "I was very lonely so I found out about some groups from the library and one of them was Barnet Gingerbread. It did a lot for me," she says.

There are separate activities organised for children under six and older children as well as for parents. Secretary Alison Attwell, who has a three-month old daughter Leah, said that the outings and activities for younger children mean that both the parents and the children can make friends with each other at the same time.

The types of activities organised for the parents range from summer barbecues and parties to fundraising discos, bowling, ice skating and quiz evenings. Jan says that subsidised events make everything much easier for the lone parent: "It is no good going to places by yourself. The prices of coach trips are much cheaper than normal and there are usually discounts into some places," she said.

And it is clear from speaking to Jan and Alison that social outings are not the only benefits when new members join Gingerbread. They make friends with people who are often going through the same things as each other, and can offer advice when any of them feel low.

There are about 250 members of Barnet Gingerbread and the organisers are hoping more will join soon. Funding for the group comes from activities such as discos and stalls at the borough's carnivals, with Barnet Council providing the group's offices for free.

Small grants from organisations such as Help a London Child and the Variety Club also keep the group's finances ticking over, but a recent donation from Great Universal mail order catalogue company of four boxes of toys could help a bit more. The company donated 120 boxes of toys which were distributed among the 20 largest Gingerbread groups in the country -- one of which was the Barnet branch.

Anyone wanting to help Barnet Gingerbread can call 0181 445 4227.

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