Fife Gingerbread E-Newsletter (December 2010)

Dear [FIRSTNAME],

Here we are already at the last newsletter of 2010 and I'm beginning to wonder whether we'll see anything but snow before the year ends! I'm sure I'm not the only person to say that I don't think I've ever seen the like of it before!

Rest assured that while we might not always be able to make it into our office, we are still here and working hard. You can contact us through our website www.fifegingerbread.org.uk, on our Facebook page, via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or, if you are currently in contact with a support worker, by phoning them on their mobiles. You can also keep up to date with everything Fife Gingerbread by following us on Twitter.

Regardless of the weather, we've compiled the most important snippets of news that we hope will be of use to you. Unfortunately, more than a few will be about the weather! If you'd like any further information or want to discuss anything then please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Take care, keep warm and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Fife Gingerbread Team

NEWS

COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS

According to the Daily Record, more than 40,000 Scots are missing out on grants to help them through the cold snap.

When the temperature drops, the Government offer cold-weather payments to recipients of certain benefits. These include Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or employment and support allowance.

The £25-a-week payments are intended to offset additional heating costs. They are made for each week of "very cold weather" - when the local temperature is recorded or forecast to be below zero.

But a survey shows many single parents, low-income families and OAPs fail to claim benefits they're entitled to.

For more information and to find out how to claim click here to visit our website.

KEEP UP TO DATE THIS WINTER

It'll come as no surprise that when the weather takes a turn for the worse, it has a massive impact on services, schools and roads causing major disruption to all aspects of our lives.

That's why it's always a good idea to keep up to date with everything that's going on, or not going on as the case may be.

School closures, service closures and disruptions to usual Fife Council services are all documented at www.fifedirect.org.uk. You can even sign up for text alerts so you can get news of your child's schools closure as soon as it happens. The site will also have a list of road closures and current incidents that you need to be aware of.

If you can't get on the internet then the best advice is to listen to the radio. Forth One, Kingdom FM and Radio Scotland are regularly updated by the police, councils and other services and give updates during extreme weather on what's happening in the local area.

Driving is always difficult in such wintry conditions and it's best to keep advised of road closures and conditions by listening to the radio or visiting www.trafficscotland.org.

For more winter information, click here.

BUDDY UPDATE

If you are a Fife Gingerbread Buddy, further to Michelle's email last week, she would like to reiterate that in the difficult weather conditions Buddies should continue with telephone contact with their link parents and should not to put themselves at risk by travelling when it's not essential to do so. If you are a link parent and need urgent advice or help, please contact Michelle by phoning her on her mobile.

Michelle and the whole team at Fife Gingerbread would like to also take this opportunity to say a huge thank you and Merry Christmas to our wonderful Buddies and Volunteers. Your hard work and dedication is much appreciated and really makes a difference to the lone parents all across Fife. All the best for 2011 and we hope to see you in the New Year!

IT'S DESTINY!

After coming up with a concept, storyboarding and filming, the Destiny Teen Project have completed their DVD documenting the project and how it has helped the group to grow. The project, run by representatives from NHS Fife, JobCentre Plus, Fife Gingerbread and the Teen Parent Project, in addition to support from other agencies, has helped the teen parents as they gain confidence, learn new skills and start their progression to other groups. The DVD will be presented at a Christmas Party for the teens and their families which is scheduled for mid-December.

HOLD THE DATE!

After the HUGE success of our last Switch & Bitch event, we're planning another one! Once again we'll be teaming up with the Chicken Shop in Kirkcaldy for a night packed with shopping, pampering, entertainment and best of all, clothes swapping! More details coming soon but put 31st March 2011 at the Dean Park Hotel in your diaries!

4X4 APPEAL

Every year we gather generously donated presents from local businesses and individuals to give to the children of our lone parent families. We are determined that as many children as possible have at least one present to open on Christmas morning.

Unfortunately, this year we're a little bit stuck! If the snow continues then there's no way we're going to be able to get round the houses of our members to hand out the presents. So we're asking you to help us get the presents out there.

If anyone owns, or knows someone who owns, a 4x4 and would be willing to help us deliver presents to underprivileged families across Fife then we need your help! We would ask you to help deliver presents in a town or small area on 17th, 20th and/or 21st December and in return would offer you travel expenses and our everlasting gratitude. If you would like to donate your time then please contact us by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

FIFE GINGERBREAD CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY!

Fife Gingerbread will be closed from Wednesday 22nd December for the Christmas Holidays. We will reopen on Tuesday 4th January 2011 at 9am.

FIFEGINGERBREAD EVENTS IN DECEMBER

• There are no Fife Gingerbread events in December

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

• Tuesday 21^st December is the winter solstice (shortest day of the year)
• Wednesday 22^nd December is the first day of the school holidays.
• Saturday 25^th December is Christmas Day!
• Sunday 26^th December is Boxing Day / St Stephen's Day.
• Friday 31^st December is Hogmanay!