A single parent’s voice in child maintenance reform

More than one million separated families across the UK have no child maintenance agreement. This means around two million children are reliant on just one parent alone to cover essentials like food, clothes, household bills and out of school care.

Over the past two and half years, the Transforming Child Maintenance partnership between One Parent Families Scotland, Fife Gingerbread and the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland, has worked with parents, practitioners and policymakers to make evidence-based recommendations to achieve systemic and transformational change to the UK child maintenance system. Alongside this, the Partnership has tested new local approaches in Scotland to better support parents to navigate the current system and increase the successful receipt of child maintenance for children.

The recommendations for reform are set out in Better for everyone: a new vision for child maintenance. The Partnership is now encouraging people to sign an open letter to the Prime Minster, calling for urgent action. 

This blog is written by a member of the Project’s single parent expert group. In December 2025, Angie [not her real name] spoke at a Scottish Parliament roundtable, outlining what the Scottish Government can do to better support families in Scotland.

“I joined the Transforming Child Maintenance project as a single parent expert group member because I feel strongly about improving the child maintenance system. There was a real lack of support available to people like me, trying to navigate a system during a stressful time when you need help and support more than ever. I wanted to contribute my lived experience to help shape something better for others whilst also learning how to navigate the complex system myself.

Parents see the daily impact of policies and decisions more than anyone, they are at the forefront. Being involved in this kind of project ensures that real experiences, challenges and needs are represented rather than decisions being based on assumptions. It brings balance, honesty and a human perspective to the table – real life experiences.

Taking part in the roundtable event at the Scottish Parliament was a very positive experience. Speaking directly to Stuart McMillan MSP, who hosted the roundtable, felt meaningful. He listened as I highlighted issues such as the loopholes in the system that are being used by some parents to avoid payment, regardless of their ability to pay. It’s not often parents get the chance to share their stories in this sort of space. It felt empowering to speak openly about the realities families like mine face and knowing that my experience was not only heard but considered in their discussions was incredibly validating.

The event in my opinion, created a space for honest conversation and helped highlight gaps in the current system. It also strengthened the case for change by grounding the discussion in real experiences rather than theory. Having real people made it real to me and I felt it helped build momentum and understanding in the room. It exposed real life from the coal face.

The recommendations in the report are very aligned with what many families have been asking for on the expert group. They also reflect what with those I’ve spoken to outside the project are telling me. They too want to see clearer processes, better communication and more consistent support for parents accessing the child maintenance service. It was encouraging to see these points recognised and taken seriously. I appreciated hearing the research and modelling that IPPR Scotland presented to our expert group. Seeing our thoughts and feelings backed up in financial terms really hit home for me, especially in showing the wider impact on poverty when the child maintenance system doesn’t work as it should.

Overall, I left the event feeling hopeful. The session felt collaborative, respectful and purposeful. It was an empowering day, and it was reassuring to see professionals and policymakers genuinely engaging with parents and valuing our input.  I felt seen and heard and I left feeling somewhat trust in this now being something on the MSP’s agenda.”