Listening to 18 single parents in Wales, we explored the barriers Black families face in accessing peer support and their ideas for change. We heard a wide range of lived experiences, from the joys of parenting to the challenges, and three main issues stood out.
Parents described stigma and discrimination that often left them feeling misunderstood and unheard. Some said existing services did not reflect or respect their lived experiences. Others felt unseen both as single parents and due to their race, navigating identities rarely acknowledged together. They called for inclusive spaces that value lived experience and centre the voices of those they aim to support.
Simultaneously, parents cautioned against assuming that all families face the same challenges. Peer support built on generalisations or overly narrow groupings can unintentionally exclude those it hopes to reach. Within both Black communities and single-parent families, experiences vary widely by faith, gender, migration, and class. Understanding these intersections is essential to providing relevant, inclusive support.
This need for representation extended to children too. Parents of mixed-Black children spoke about the importance of their children seeing themselves reflected in their communities. When representation was missing, some described their children feeling culturally isolated, especially when separated from wider Black communities.