New child maintenance support and resources for families in Scotland
Child maintenance can make a significant difference to the financial security of single parent families and help ensure children receive the child maintenance they are entitled to. Over the past three years, One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS), Fife Gingerbread and IPPR Scotland worked alongside parents through the Transforming Child Maintenance project to research the child maintenance system and develop recommendations to improve both the system itself and the support available around it.
We’re delighted that recommendations to improve access to independent child maintenance information, support and advice outside the Child Maintenance Service are now becoming a reality for single parent families in Scotland, thanks to funding from the Scottish Government through its 2026–31 Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.
These developments include:
- Child maintenance advice and support
OPFS is providing free, confidential advice in partnership with Fife Gingerbread, through the OPFS Lone Parent Helpline and Live Chat service. The service is currently supporting parents through the early stages of their child maintenance journey. It will be expanded later this year to provide support for parents with more complex child maintenance issues. Further details will be announced soon.
- The ‘Child Maintenance Explained website’ – now live
Child Maintenance Explained is a new website developed with parents who have lived experience of the child maintenance system, alongside OPFS, Fife Gingerbread, Citizens Advice Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid and the DWP. It was designed for parents and as a resource for practitioners supporting families and provides clear, easy-to-follow information to help parents understand their options and navigate the early stages of their child maintenance journey independently.
Help raise awareness by:
- Sharing Child Maintenance Explained with colleagues, families and anyone who may find it useful.
- Sharing information about the child maintenance advice service.
