Who are One Parent Families Scotland?

Where it all started

Established in 1944, One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) is the leading charity working with single parent families in Scotland. We provide expert advice, practical support and campaign with parents to make their voices heard to change the systems, policies and attitudes that disadvantage single parent families.

Our vision is of a Scotland where single parent families are celebrated in all their diversity, are treated fairly and live free from discrimination and poverty.

Our mission is to amplify the voices of single parent families in their unique role as sole carers and providers and together challenge stigma, poverty and inequality to achieve change.

OPFS approach

We work alongside single parents and their families, creating ways to overcome barriers, changing their lives and fulfilling their potential. We also celebrate the many achievements of single parents and their children.

About One Parent Families Scotland

OPFS aims to enable single parent families to achieve their potential, to reach a decent standard of living and contribute to Scottish society. Those with the greatest expertise about what makes a real difference are single parents  with lived experience. We support all single parent families whether headed by mothers or fathers, young parents or kinship carers.

Our direct services tailored to the needs of single parent families cover:

• Tailored advice and information.
• Welfare rights and money advice
• Family support
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Support into training, education and employment programmes
• Access to flexible childcare services (now run by our sister organisation FCSS)
• Training for practitioners
• Services to reduce the digital exclusion facing single parents.

We want to change single parent families’ experiences of isolation, loneliness, poverty, inequality, stigma and poor health, for the long-term.  Our approach supports single parents to build their self-esteem, confidence and skills, to take up employment, training and education opportunities and to participate in OPFS policy and campaigning activities.