Project Director: Sarah Pearson
Project Duration: 2013-2017

Making it Work is part of the 21st Century Life investment area of Investing in Communities, though which Big Lottery Scotland invests in projects that bring improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need. The programme will offer investment of up to £1.25 million each to a partnership in 4 local authority areas: Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and Fife. Up to £2m investment is available to a partnership in Glasgow. Making it Work aims to join up services to tackle the barriers faced by lone parents returning to work, and to create more sustainable local partnerships to support lone parents in the future. The programme is targeting lone parents experiencing the greatest barriers, including those with disabilities, or caring for someone with disabilities; with a large family (3 or more); living in an area with a depressed labour market; living in chaotic circumstances; with little work experience or who have been out of work for two or more years.

CRESR and SCER are carrying out partnership and programme level evaluations involving the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to assess the impact of each of the 5 partnerships, and the programme as a whole, and the success of the programme’s approach in helping lone parents with complex needs move towards sustainable employment. The contract also involves delivery of learning activities, designed to support partnerships and the Big Lottery Fund in delivering the programme. These include regular workshops and seminars, alongside good practice guidance and a website to facilitate shared learning.

The project team also includes SCER, University of Strathclyde: Colin Lindsay, Hazel Baxter, Johanna Commander, Eli Dutton, Patricia Findlay. For further information and updates for this project please see the project website.