Impact reports
Last updated: 17/04/2025
To be able to capture the day to day experiences of single parents we are gathering feedback on some of the key issues single parents are facing during the cost of living crisis. We capture this feedback through our local and national services. A report is produced based on this feedback highlighting key themes which can then inform future service delivery and policy priorities.
- Beth, Single parent
View our latest report – Benefit Conditionality
OPFS regularly collects the experiences of single parents across Scotland. Through our six local services, national advice and information services and online support we capture key areas of concern for single parent families.
The themes for the period of January, February and March 2025, fall under the following broad headings:
1. Financial concerns and poverty
2. Sole carer & provider responsibility
3. Domestic violence/coercive control.
4. Child maintenance
Spotlight
In each report, we spotlight a specific topic with more in-depth coverage. In this edition, the focus is on benefit conditionality.
We remain ever vigilant to the needs of the single parent families. We are committed to advocating for positive social change on their behalf.
There are five elements to our impact tracking model:
- Gathering knowledge: Parent’s experience is systematically collected and analysed.
- Monitoring Emerging Issues: Emerging issues are drawn out and highlighted.
- OPFS Response: Our services respond by working to meet the needs identified.
- Dissemination and Communication: Emerging issues communicated to key influencers.
- Single Parent Proofing: Using single parent feedback to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of policy and practice so that they respond effectively to the
needs of single parents.