The Barclaycard programme Horizons helps families who are struggling with debt. It targets lone parents as they are among the most vulnerable in our communities.

Since March 2005, Barclaycard has invested £3.5million in the Horizons programme, and through it supported around 89,000 disadvantaged lone parents and their children. The initiative seeks to improve the skills and confidence of lone parents, helping them manage their finances, improve their job prospects and better support their children.

Nearly two million British families have only one parent, and around 1,488,000 children of lone parents are poor.

Horizons brings together four charity partners; Citizens Advice, Family Welfare Association (FWA), One Parent Families, Gingerbread and Parentline Plus. With Barclaycard, they share expertise and knowledge and have created a programme of activity that makes a real difference to lone parents.

Project targets

For FWA to support 3,000 lone parents.

For Parentline Plus to reach 7,500 lone parents via parenting services.

For Citizens Advice to reach 7,600 lone parents via debt advice and financial literacy training.

For One Parent Families, Gingerbread to reach 120 lone parents via the ‘back to work’ programme.

 

Impacts to date

More than 7,000 lone parents supported through one-to-one debt advice and/or financial literacy training.

More than 1,000 community professionals received financial literacy training and reaching an estimated 14,500 lone parents.

More than 8,500 lone parents have benefited from Horizons parenting support

Six ‘back to work’ programmes have been completed supporting 97 lone parents on their journey towards employment. Barclaycard has recruited 11 of them.

10,460 lone parents and their children have benefited from £600,000 of grants to support education.

 

Jessica’s story

Jessica Bayliss, from Northampton, is a lone parent who took part in the Barclaycard Horizons programme.

Jessica was paired with a Barclays mentor, who helped Jessica develop her skills, identify her career options and increase her self–confidence. Horizons taught her how to achieve financial stability and manage her work/life commitments. Sessions with Parentline Plus were incorporated to help Jessica balance parental stress with work commitments. She also took part in work–based role–plays to build her confidence.

As a result of Jessica’s achievements during the programme, she now works for Barclaycard as an HR Administrator. The programme has also boosted her confidence. Inspired by Barclays employee volunteers, Jessica plans to train as a counsellor so that she can use what she has learned to help others.

Related projects