A group of single parents are appealing to local businesses and Government for funding for a support and learning network which will help them improve themselves and better raise their children.

The group, Single Parent's Alliance, has launched a pilot scheme "Empowering Single Parents" with half a dozen one-parent families taking part.

"Time mastery, money management and decision making and dealing with stress are all things I can help them with," said Jack Harris, head of Creative Consulting which is helping the single parents set up their own self help group.

"But they help each other with support in many other ways and eventually we want to have many groups helping each other across Bermuda."

Now, along with single parents Earlene Blyden and Beverley Williams, Mr. Harris is helping the women help themselves - and the next generation now growing up.

"Every employer in Bermuda has single parent working for them," said Mr. Harris. "And it is these businesses we are hoping will support our cause."

The founders hope that every time a group gets together it will form a cell which will support itself and branch off and teach other groups and eventually expand across the Island.

The group estimates in excess of 10,000 residents are in single families with huge implications for the social structure of Bermuda.

Typically, single parents have to work two jobs to keep their children and in some cases may not be able to juggle home and work with keeping a house.

He added: "Government can spend $50,000 a year on an inmate or $100,000 on an organisation like this which may help change the social fabric of the Island. Single parenthood is a massive social problem, with 11 percent of budget going in responding to crime. It is an issue we would like to tackle in a positive way."

The group will eventually offer help in dealing with getting maintenance from reluctant fathers or mothers, with legal advice as well as practical advice from mothers or fathers who have won the battle for maintenance payments.

It will also help families function better by offering a support system between single families and a social structure to help share the burden.

The group also hopes to help single mothers improve themselves and achieve a second career, particularly after their children have grown and more time can be dedicated to self improvement

Ms Blyden, who has two teenage children and a grown-up son, is a typical mother on her own who works two jobs to make ends meet and looks after he family at the same time.

She has been working to set up the group and said: "This gives us support which allows us to do things better. Basically anything that is needed done, you have to do it."

She says the group gives her the emotional support she needs, while the course, "Empowering Single Parents" is helping her manage her time and her money to help her deal with the stress of a growing family.

"We have only just started, but from Jack I can learn how to manage better. I have been keeping a time log to help find different ways to manage my time. There is always too much to do and too little time. I think this will help though."

Ms Williams is also a single mother with two jobs and two smaller children. She said: "The most important thing is the support you get. Being a mother is a tough job anyway but on your own it can be very hard and stressful. We want to help ourselves and help others in the same position as us."

Anyone who would like to donate to the new organisation either their time or money, write to Beverley Williams and Earlene Blyden c/o Single Parent's Alliance, PO Box 157, Sandys SBBX or e-mail bwilliamsnorthrock.bm