SBS in partnership with lone parent organisations to tackle in-work poverty

Strathclyde Business School will be working with Fife Gingerbread and One Parent Families Scotland to tackle in-work poverty across Scotland. The project has been awarded funding from The Robertson Trust as part of their initiative to continue empowering lone parents with creative pathways to employment and offering tailored support to ensure families can thrive. 

Professor Colin Lindsay and Dr Anne Marie Cullen from the Scottish Centre for Employment Research (SCER) will be working with the organisations on what is a two year project. The partnership will involve intensive engagement with lone parents and employers to ensure that parents returning to the labour market have access to Fair Work – that is, decent pay, sufficient and appropriate hours, opportunities for progression, and shifts that allow them to balance work with caring roles. The project is funded under The Robertson Trust’s ‘Test and Demonstrate’ approach, whereby the SCER research team will work these lone parents charities to provide robust evidence demonstrating ‘what works’ in supporting parents and engaging effectively with employers.

Professor Colin Lindsay said, “This project will produce cutting-edge research on how we can engage employers as active partners in supporting lone parents who wish to return to employment. Most importantly, we are proud to be a part of this important partnership promoting access to Fair Work and inclusive workplaces.  We are grateful to The Robertson Trust for supporting this project.” 

Laura Millar, CEO, Fife Gingerbread, said, "We are delighted to be awarded funding to deliver lasting change to tackle in work poverty for lone parent families in Scotland, in partnership with One Parent Families Scotland and Strathclyde Business School.

"Lone parents are an incredible pool of talent, and all too often they are locked out of the labour market or stuck in low paid work. Our mission will be to create Lone Parent Positive Workplaces across Scotland."

Published: 18 December 2024