Parenting evidence review
A PAS project reviewing evidence published in 2023. It ran from January to April 2024.
We know from talking to our members and others working directly with families that many parents and carers in Scotland are facing significant challenges. It might be related to the rising cost of living, the aftermath of the pandemic, poor health or other factors in their lives.
In order to help us understand the key issues, needs and priorities faced by parents and those in a parenting role in Scotland today, we put out an invitation to tender at the end of 2023. After a competitive tendering process, we commissioned The Lines Between to review the evidence published in 2023 in Scotland.
We are delighted to say the final report examines research with over 4000 parents and carers across 26 local authorities in Scotland. This includes:
- single parents,
- black or minority ethnic parents,
- disabled parents or parents with disabled children,
- refugees,
- parents seeking asylum,
- carers,
- parents with care experience,
- parents who have had a child put into the care system,
- adoptive parents.
Many of the key challenges facing those in parenting roles in the report came as no surprise to us – particularly poverty, financial insecurity, mental health, education and childcare. But they are still shocking nonetheless.
We are heartened to have a diverse range of voices reflected in the report, and are aware that with intersectionality, some families will face even harsher realities than those presented. Our hope is that the final report provides a strong basis of existing knowledge for the third sector to draw on and something that we at Parenting across Scotland can use to help influence change, our work and policy priority areas.
Click here to read the report>
Click here to see the infographic for the report>
Thanks to Molly Rosenbaum, Lorraine Simpson and the rest of the team at The Lines Between for all their hard work in producing the report. Also, Angus Doyle for his design work on the report and infographic.
