Case study 3
Working school hours – Rebecca Fry
Rebecca Fry had been looking for work for more than a year, but was struggling to find something suitable that would fit around her parental responsibilities.
As a lone parent with a seven-year-old son, Rebecca wanted a job that would either let her drop her son Ryan off at school or let her pick him up.
Jaine Barrow, her New Deal for Lone Parents adviser, suggested 30-year-old Rebecca apply for a job at Fire Defence, a local fire protection company based in South Molton, Devon.
Fire Defence had a good reputation when it came to employing lone parents and allowing them to work the short days they needed to accommodate the school run.
“11am to 3pm is fantastic for us,” said Bill Johns, Rebecca’s boss at Fire Defence. “It covers the core hours of the business, when we get most of our calls.”
Rebecca started work as a part-time filing clerk in August 2005, but within a year she was promoted to office manager and is now working full-time.
“Jaine was absolutely brilliant,” said Rebecca. “It’s not so much about the money; but also about getting your identity back. Now, I’m Becky, and not just Ryan’s mum.
“I can’t understand why people feel that they can’t return to work because of their children. There are good jobs out there, and also good childcare. Today, Ryan is a really confident child who understands that his Mum goes out to work. He is being brought up to believe that if you want something, then you have to go out and earn the money for it.”