I am a single Mum with a 7yr old daughter looking to meet other single parents to go caravaning with. I am a teacher but not one of those stuffy all knowledgeable ones. I'm down to earth and work hard putting up my own awning, towing etc....maybe bit independent, but its so hard to go caravaning on our own. I would really like to meet other people in the same boat (or caravan) as me so we can all have a good social time and the kids can play together.
I hate going to these sites where there is evening entertainment and sitting at a table by myself while I watch my daughter do all those kids fun activities. It would be great to be with a group of friends.
I did join a caravan club but they got all clicky and it was uncomfortable.
If you are a single Mum or Dad and want to meet up on a site every now and again please let me know.
Hi Sarah
I don't know if this is of any use but on the main page there is a section about meeting up and getting together. That may well have some additional information for you. I really hope that you find someone to go with, as you say it's ok for the kids isn't it, they go running off and meet people.
Hope you get some lovely replies x
I did join a caravan club but they got all clicky and it was uncomfortable.
If you are a single Mum or Dad and want to meet up on a site every now and again please let me know.
Unfortunately, this is something that we hear all to often. There are certainly some centres / divisions where this must be the case or we wouldn't be hearing it so often.
It is my experience with the caravan club rallies that on the whole most people are extremely friendly and will bend over backwards to avoid new ralliers feeling left out.
Sadly, this is clearly not the same with all Caravan Club Centres as it is with the one I am with, but I would urge you not to give up on the caravan club rallies altogether, but to try another centre.
I have found that rallying has spoilt caravanning on commercial sites as I miss the friendly atmosphere I haved got used to on the rally field.
Annother possibility might be to arrange to meet up with some people from here when you get away, at least that way you will have some company while the kids are playing and the opportunity to share experiences and maybe pick up some ideas as to places you can go in the future.
As regards rallies, the vast majority of ralliers ar families or couples, but I have seen 2 or 3 single mums and would be horrified if I thought anyone had made them feel any less welcome because they are single parents. As a former committee member, if I suspected anyone had treated a single parent any differently to anyone else, I would have made certain that it was looked into and the single parent given an apology from the centre.
Thanks for the replies so soon. I am assuming that the longer message was sent by a caravan club member and I appreciate what you have said. I did feel that the group was clicky and the rallies reminded me of previous memberships to various other groups where there were specific meet times, rules regs etc. I want to try to avoid this and just meet up with a group of people who want to spend time together without having to meet up at the flagpole. No specifics just do as we please when we want and have a pure social time ...no obligations or money paid out other than the site fees. Whether these folks are single Parents or not it would be nice to make new friends....
Hi Sarah,and Welcome to the forum,have a look on the meetings and get together section,one off the best meets we have been to is Pillaton hall farm last year,there were lots of children there and they had a cracking time and got on like a house on fire as they say,there is another one this year called Pillaton the return.but there are lots of others also,heres some photos of last year.
there are other photos of other meets also on there.
------------- Think this year is to follow old meet friends for 2014.
If you cant do someone a good turn,don`t do them a bad one,its nice to be nice you know,and little things mean much more later in life.
Pete.
Hi Sarah, I too am a single mum of 3, I have only just started towing my folding caravan and to say my nerves are shot at the end of it is an understatement Stupidly I have 3 more trips booked for next month alone I am booked on 2 meets from here, Chy Carne in Cornwall end of July and Pillaton Hall Farm in Sept, I really enjoyed Pillaton meet last year
------------- Vid walkthrough of my Aztec Cantera 12 tent *Click Me*
Video of my folding caravan *Click Me*
Yes, I am a caravan club member and a former centre secretary but have not been rallying for a little while now.
I have to agree with a lot of what you have said as I have been told of similar things by members of other centres. This is why I suggested you try rallying with another centre.
You are under no obligation to join in with anything that goes on at any of the clubs rallies and don't let anyone try to tell you differently.
Morover, you shouldn't expect to pay any more than you would expect to pay in site fees, on the contrary, despite a small rally fee, you can usually expect a discount on the site fee and probably expect to be paying less than if you had booked directly with the site.
Having run rallies for the club myself, most members would expect some kind of "timetable" if you like detailing what (if anything) has been arranged. This could be anything from a daytrip, evening entertainment, or just "Flag" before everyone goes home.
I always felt that the term "Flag" was very misleading. In case you have not attended one before, it is basically a chat where you can get to know people over a cup of tea and a biscuit. In my experience it has never been what somneone once referred to on here as a time where everyone has to gather around the flag pole to sing praises to the rally marshal.
Incidentally, the term "Rally Marshal" or even worse "Rally Officer" is something I am not happy about as it does imply some kind of superiority.
The club has a serious image problem and this is not helped by some committee members of some centres. There are some centres who are friendly though. I was lucky and found one first time around. Unfortunately, you are a bit far from me or I would hapily make some introductions for you.
Don't get me wrong, I am not going to sing the caravan clubs praises; they have some major issues, but in my experience, rally fields are by far the most friendly places to park a caravan.
Yes, there are rules, but these are generally just good manners and stuff you would expect on any site.
There are other groupes too, not just the caravan club. There are quite possibly groups for single parents and there is certainly one for young caravanners.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Single Parents
Stupidly I have 3 more trips booked for next month alone 
