Transforming Child Maintenance

Transforming Child Maintenance was a partnership project between Fife Gingerbread, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Scotland, and One Parent Families Scotland, funded by The Robertson Trust. Over three years, we worked alongside parents with lived experience, policymakers and partner organisations to understand the challenges families face when navigating child maintenance and develop recommendations for change.
The project has now concluded. The final report, Better for everyone: a new vision for child maintenance, sets out recommendations to improve the child maintenance system and strengthen the information, support and advice available to families.
More information related to child maintenance
- Find out more about the how to arrange child maintenance and what the Child Maintenance Service can do.
- OPFS research report on single parents’ experiences of the CMS
- OPFS submission to the DWP on improving enforcement through curfew orders
- OPFS and Scottish Women’s Aid briefing on the UK Government Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Bill
- Speak to other parents about your experiences of child maintenance on our Parent Forum.
- If you are a parent living in Fife who would like support with your child maintenance claim, contact Fife Gingerbread on 01592 725 210.
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Parent voices
Read the stories of resident and non-resident single parents talking about their experiences of child maintenance and the Child Maintenance System.
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Better for everyone: a new vision for child maintenance
Read the full and summary reports, based on two years of research, with detailed recommendations to reform the child maintenance system.
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Exploring the impacts of child maintenance complex case work in Fife
Evaluation of child maintenance casework support for single parents in Fife, delivered between August and December 2025.
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Other research and reports on the Child Maintenance Service
Read more research on the CMS
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Transforming Child Maintenance interim reports
This interim briefing report from 2024, along with its four supporting annexes, provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of the UK Child Maintenance Service.
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News from Fife Gingerbread and IPPR Scotland
Read blogs and research from our Transforming Child Maintenance project partners
Latest News
View all newsNew website launched to help parents navigate child maintenance
06/07/2026
A new website co-developed with parents, alongside enhanced child maintenance advice and support, is helping families across Scotland access clear, independent information and support with child maintenance.
UK Government responds to open letter urging child maintenance reform
19/06/2026
OPFS response to House of Lords debate on Reforming the Child Maintenance Service
15/06/2026
Find out how we’ve responded to the House of Lords debate on Reforming the Child Maintenance Service