26/08/03

Most people overestimate the proportion of lone parents who are teenagers, according to a recent survey carried out by the charity One Parent Families and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Almost half the survey respondents thought twenty per cent of lone parents were teenagers and over a fifth put the proportion as high as 40 per cent. In fact, only three per cent of lone parents are teenagers – the average age of a lone parent is 35.

The survey also reveals that 80 per cent of people overestimate the number of lone mothers who’ve never married or lived with their child’s father. Just over a quarter of respondents think between 31 and 50 per cent of lone mothers have never married or lived with their child’s father, and almost half think that between 16 and 30 per cent haven’t married or lived with the father.

In fact only 15 per cent of lone mothers have never married or lived with the father of their child.

"It is clear from the survey that there is some way to go before we’ve banished the myth that lone parenthood is a lifestyle choice," said Andy Keen Downs, Deputy Director of One Parent Families. "Most lone parents have not chosen to be parenting alone, and are doing so because of a marriage or relationship breakdown.

"One parent families now make up a quarter of all British families and it’s time there was more recognition that lone parents are ordinary parents, most of whom are struggling to bring up their children on a single income."

Stephanie Allison, Community Investment Manager with The Royal Bank of Scotland Group which has a three-year £500,000 partnership with One Parent Families, said: "Financial issues are an acute concern for many single parent families. RBS group believes in financial inclusion and one parent families are one of the groups most vulnerable to poverty. Our support for One Parent Families through the free Lone Parent Helpline aims to prevent lone parents being one of the most financially excluded groups in the UK today by providing practical information and advice to them when they need it most."

Despite the misconceptions about who lone parents are, there is a better understanding from the general public about how difficult it is to raise children alone. Most people surveyed think it would be extremely difficult or difficult most of the time (51 per cent). And over 42 per cent think balancing work and children is the hardest thing about being a lone parent.

Other results:

54 per cent of respondents think that JK Rowling is the best celebrity role model for lone parents.
Almost 30 per cent think that feeling lonely and isolated is the hardest thing about being a lone parent.
24 per cent think the hardest thing is surviving on a low income. (52 per cent of calls to the Lone Parent Helpline from England and Wales, and 51 per cent from Scotland, are on financial issues and child support.)

Provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland