Annual Event 2023 - Reflections from Laura
Every year, we host our annual event during Challenge Poverty Week which allows us to share the campaign with our many friends and supporters.
The event is a superb opportunity to reflect on the amazing efforts of staff, volunteers, families and partnership organisations, and to celebrate each other’s successes.
I am proud to be part of Fife Gingerbread, and I always leave the event feeling re-energised for the next twelve months. Thank you to everyone who attended, participated and contributed.
We spent time talking about systems change… which in the simplest terms is about a collective effort to change and improve the systems that are all too often failing families.
This can feel relentless but Mairi-Anne (Research in Practice) reminded us that if we all take action this will quickly make a difference- every action is like a grain of sugar and with enough sugar we can sweeten the cake!
Our team will continue to work with partner organisations to deliver services that meet the needs of families, and we will make the most of every opportunity to amplify their voice, share their experiences and champion for change.
Yvonne made the most moving, and inspirational contribution of the day. A lone parent supported through the Making it Work for families project, her journey has been incredible. Her confidence and strength in being able to stand in front of an audience and share her story shows how far she has come. She thanked the project team for what they have done to support her, but it is our thanks to Yvonne for allowing us to get to know her, meet her kids, and be part of her journey.
Next on the agenda was our Workshops. Every year, we look at three areas of development here at Fife Gingerbread, and this year was no exception -
- Progressive Recruitment workshop focused on the need for healthy, well paid and flexible work for families, and the need to ‘single parent proof’ workplaces. This workshop was delivered in partnership with Flexibility Works.
“The Progressive Recruitment Workshop was extremely informative and insightful. Lyndsey and Nikki were both highly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject of flexible working and the benefits it can bring to the individual as well as the workplace. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.”
Amy, NHS Fife
- Child Maintenance workshop shared the failings of the child maintenance system, and why the system requires radical changes in order to work for families to ensure that children receive the fair financial support they deserve. Poverty Alliance co-delivered this session.
“I was quite astounded to hear the challenges from what can only be described as a wholly broken system. The amount of arrears owned to the children if paid would take 60% of them out of poverty, quite frightening.”
Stephen, Fife Gingerbread Board
- Stigma Toolkit workshop shared a co-produced resource that raises awareness of the impact of stigma, challenges us to improve and provides tools to make change happen (click here to access the toolkit). This workshop was delivered by the Making it Work for families partnership team.
“The workshop was very interesting; made you think before you spoke. It was eye-opening to see how different words can be perceived differently depending on tone and content in which it is used”
Lyndsey, Fife Gingerbread Parents Forum
Our hope is that everyone leaves their workshop motivated to make changes – whether that is in their own family, community, organization, or beyond! Each workshop was a call to action.
Our recognition awards were emotional with five worthy winners selected from sixty-nine incredible nominations. Congratulations to the winners- big Gingey hugs to all!
In his closing remarks, Stewart (Chair of our Board) thanked everyone who attended, and the staff and volunteers who make it all possible at Fife Gingerbread. He encouraged us all to continue to be loud, bold and dream big.
Stewart used a quote (I’d never heard) from Shakespeare to describe Fife Gingerbread and it’s the perfect fit for a wee charity in Fife that’s unafraid of being an advocate for the families who need us most.
If you couldn’t make it here are the links to the videos shared at the event:
- A Year in the Life of Fife Gingerbread
We also launched our Heat & Eat appeal for 2024 which raises vital funds for supported families to ensure they are safe, warm and fed all year round through crisis mitigation, feeding families, groups and much more. The fundraising also supports families to have a magical Christmas through our festive package to ensure children have the festive period they deserve.
Thanks again to everyone who attended with such enthusiasm, support and kindness.
See you again in 2024 folks!