Policy and Research
We work to achieve societal change, and this is at the heart of everything we do. We aim to bridge the gap between single parents and the decision-makers who have the power to make change happen. The key policy areas are:
Scottish Government priorities and our recommendations
One Parent Families Scotland’s briefing on how the new Scottish Government’s Priorities (2021) will impact on single parents and our policy recommendations.
COVID-19 recovery
See the policy and research work we have produced and contributed to on how to ensure a social and economic recovery from COVID-19 which works for single parents.
Scottish Social Security Benefits & Local Authority Discretionary Payments
OPFS has consulted widely with single parents and other parties before submitting our responses to consultations to Scottish Social Security Benefits.
Single Parent Families and Poverty in Scotland
We believe tackling child poverty should be an immediate policy priority for the Westminster and Scottish Governments.
Children's rights
See submissions from One Parent Families Scotland on children's rights issues in Scotland and the UK.
Childcare
OPFS believes high quality, affordable, accessible and flexible childcare needs to be at the heart of early years policies.
Employment, Employability and Education
See submissions to the Scottish Parliament Welfare Reform Committee and the Glasgow City Council - Colleges and Lifelong Learning Policy Commission.
Cost of the School Day - Participatory Budgeting Project
Parents supported by OPFS suggested ideas on how to use £10,000 in their school to reduce the cost of the school day.
Single Parent Proofing
OPFS was a partner in a UK wide “Participatory One Parent Proofing” initiative funded by the Big Lottery. Also, OPFS created a Proofing Framework specifically for Glasgow Lone Parents.
One Parent Families Manifesto: 2019 General Election
In the lead up to the 2019 General Election, we published a five-point manifesto of policies which we urge all parties to support.
Making It Work Evaluations
Making it Work was a national programme operating in five areas in Scotland. It targeted single parents with young children in receipt of any benefit and experiencing additional barriers to employment.
Women’s Unfair Responsibility for Unpaid Care and Domestic Work
The Scottish Parliaments EHRCJ Committee agreed to undertake introductory work into ‘the impact of women’s unfair responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work during the pandemic and as we emerge from it’.
Does the UK CMS deliver value for money for children?
See the OPFS submission on the value for money for children of the UK Child Maintenance service after consulting single parent families.
