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` Edinburg h One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

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Page 1: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

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Edinburgh

One Parent Families Scotland

Lone Parents in Scotland

Page 2: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Child Poverty – Setting the scene

1 in 5 children in Scotland live in poverty. With Scotland’s undoubted wealth OPFS believes this is a scandal.

• 1 in 3 children live in poverty in areas of deprivation• 1 in 2 children in a one parent family live in poverty • Poverty is the most serious • Poverty is the most serious problems facing Scotlands children

today. Its’ effects last a lifetime, negatively impacting on health, education,

social and physical development and seriously harming future life chances and opportunities.

• No reason why our child poverty rates should be so much higher than in many other European countries.

• In Denmark and Norway less than 10% of children live in poverty Child poverty is not inevitable

Page 3: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Profile of Lone Parents in Scotland

LP Population Over 163,000 LP’s with 295,000 children (1 in 4 families) Projected to increase to 238,000 next 20 yrs Ave age 34 yrs, 92% are women 46% children in one parent families poor

The challenge of sustaining employment 57.2% in paid work ( 71% of LP’s with 11-14 yr olds) 54%of LP’s with 5/6yr old’s work (75% work part-time) 22% who start a job end up unemployed within 12 mths 68% enter three occup groups which are lowest paid

Job insecurity, see-sawing between poorly paid work & benefits

Page 4: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Challenges Facing Lone Parents in Scotland

Poverty & low income Low levels of skills, qualifications and confidence Isolation & lack of social support Concentration in deprived areas Poor health (parent & child) Low Benefit Levels & impact of Welfare Reform Reconciling the demands of work and family life Finding good quality, affordable childcare; Barriers to access - travel and transport Attitudes towards lone parents

Unique challenge - sole carer & sole breadwinner

Page 5: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Impact of Welfare Reform & Public Sector Cuts

Conditionality Income Support for LP’s with youngest child 5 yrs ends Conditionality & Sanctions but support with transition to work not in place. LP’s 3yrs & 4yr olds – intro mandatory work-related activity ; work-focused interviews increased & good cause list abolished.

Benefits &Tax Credits Lone Mothers will be hardest hit by benefit changes IFS: lose on ave.8.5% of income after tax by 2015 Switch to CPI from RPI, withdrawal,restriction,reduced benefits.

Public Service cuts – LP’s 18% drop in living standards

Page 6: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Effects of spending cuts by family type: as % of net income, all services ( Reed & Horton, 2010)

Page 7: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Skills & Lone Parents

Lack of formal education and consequently of job skills limits access to occupations that provide enough income for an acceptable standard of living.

92% are women so many end up in traditionally female occupations that are low paying, perpetuating the cycle of poverty

Welfare to Work policies are “Work – First” lone parents access to higher level training & education blocked

Page 8: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Career Development Needs of Lone Parents/1

LP’s have sole responsibility for support of their families; aspire to achieve a good job and economic independence.

Outreach, engagement, participation Emotional /family support (self help groups, lone parent

peer support, support systems) Basic skills (especially literacy skills) Affordable, high quality, flexible, accessible childcare

Page 9: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Self-confidence building Skills assessment Job-seeking skills The challenges of combining work and family roles Recognition of the role of gender in occupational choice

Career Development Needs of Lone Parents/2

Page 10: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Policy Concerns In addition to effective programmes, we need

advocates for public policy designed to assist lone parents.

• Work First Approach replaced Human Capital• Employment discrimination, • Recognition of non-traditional roles, • Government and employer support of child care, • Pay equity,

• Work environment alternatives.

Page 11: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Type of welfare state ?

Poverty faced by LP’s across diff countries remarkably different . Do not depend on prevalence of LP’s but on type welfare state.

• UK Adult Worker Model All able adults should be in employment independent of the type of family. (but 2nd highest Child Poverty level)

• Parent-Worker model in Scandinavian countries Families are diverse and adults should be supported as workers and parents (highest opfs- lowest child poverty levels)

The added challenges that lone parents face should be recognised through good quality childcare, family friendly employment opportunities and reasonable parental leave.

Page 12: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Pathways To Participation

Progression ModelKey Success Criteria

* Recognition not dependency* Barriers, also assets* Holistic ,trusted services* Tailored for Lone Parents* Focus on Family Goals * Peer Mentoring Approach * Capacity to Motivate * Cross Sector Partnerships

Page 13: ` Edinburgh One Parent Families Scotland Lone Parents in Scotland

Marion Davis

One Parent Families Scotland

100 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6DH Tel: 0141 847 0444 marion.davis@opfs       

 

Lone Parent Helpline: 0808 801 0323

www.opfs.org.uk

How to contact us…

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