Gingerbread (charity) UK. The charity describes its vision as ‘a society in which single parent families are valued and treated equally and fairly.’ Helpline Gingerbread runs a Freephone helpline (0808 802 0925) offering advice and information for single parents. The helpline is staffed by advisers who are trained to give guidance on practical matters to do with money, benefits, employment issues and family law. Membership Single parents can become members of Gingerbread for free, most signing up via the Gingerbread website. Members can use the protected online forums, receive a monthly e-newsletter and get access to discounts and special offers. Local groups
Gingerbread house references from Vadstena Abbey of Swedish nuns baking gingerbread to ease indigestion in 1444. The traditional sweetener is honey, used by the guild in Nuremberg. Spices used are ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cardamom. Gingerbread figurines date back to the 15th century, and figural biscuit-making was practised in the 16th century. The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits is from the court of Elizabeth I of England: she had gingerbread figures made in the likeness of some of her important guests. The gingerbread bakers were gathered into professional baker guilds. In many European countries gingerbread bakers were a distinct