New evidence from OPFS highlights the growing impact of energy debt on single parent families. During Q1 2026, money and debt enquiries made up the majority of contacts to our services.

Child maintenance should help children get what they need to grow, learn and feel secure. But too many families face delays, setbacks and a system that feels like snakes and broken ladders. Read our guest blog from Philippa Kemp at @opfs.org.uk: www.povertyalliance.org/guest-blog-n...

💡 Energy affordability is firmly back on the policy agenda this week with the new Prime Minister announcing plans to remove VAT from household electricity bills as part of a package of cost-of-living measures.

We welcome the proposed removal of VAT from electricity bills as a positive first step, but long-term action such as an affordable social tariff and faster energy debt support is also needed. Read our full response here 👇 www.cas.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Parents told us that understanding child maintenance can feel confusing and hard to navigate. That's why parents worked alongside partner orgs to develop #ChildMaintenanceExplained 🎥 Kerry from @fifegingerbread.bsky.socialGingerbread explains more. www.childmaintenanceexplained.org.uk

🎉 Child Maintenance Explained is live! Developed with parents and partner organisations, the new website provides clear, independent information to help families understand their child maintenance options and navigate the system. 🔗 www.childmaintenanceexplained.org.uk

Not sure where to start with child maintenance? If you're a single parent in Scotland, we can help you understand your options and what happens next. Professionals supporting single parents can get in touch too. 📞 Helpline | 💬 Live chat Free. Confidential.

👀 Understanding child maintenance isn't always straightforward. That's why we're launching Child Maintenance Explained next week, a new website developed with parents and partner organisations to provide clear, trusted information in one place. Watch this space! #ChildMaintenanceExplained

Juggling everything and trying to understand child maintenance too? If you're in Scotland, our advisers can help you understand your options and the Child Maintenance Service. We also support professionals working with single parents. 📞 Helpline: 0808 801 0323

Child maintenance can be hard to navigate, especially when you're juggling everything else as a single parent. If you're a single parent in Scotland, we can help you understand your options and make sense of the Child Maintenance Service. 📞 Lone Parent Helpline 💬 Live chat

An important read At OPFS, we see every day how harmful narratives can deepen stigma and distract from the real causes of poverty and inequality.

Neil Mackay@neilmackay.bsky.social · last mo.

It says much about these divided times that an organisation like the Citizens Advice service, a byword for old-fashioned kindness & decency, has decided it must now fight the far-right in our poorest communities to stop the demonisation tearing society apart My @heraldscotland.bsky.social long read

OPFS has joined a coalition of leading charities calling for an emergency Scottish parliamentary committee on child poverty. Single parent families are among those most at risk of poverty in Scotland.

Last week, the House of Lords debated the Public Services Committee's report on reforming the Child Maintenance Service.

At One Parent Families Scotland we are heartbroken and deeply concerned by the outbursts of racist disorder, violence and threats this week. Families are being cut off from the essential support they need as many parents are telling us they are afraid to travel.

OPFS has joined healthcare bodies, women’s organisations and equality groups in calling for the reinstatement of a dedicated Minister for Women’s Health in Scotland. Women’s health requires clear leadership, accountability and political commitment.

🎙️ New Episode: Law, Poverty, and Political Power, with Satwat Rehman Our next one-on-one guest interview is with Satwat Rehman @satwatr.bsky.social : anti-poverty campaigner and One Parent Families Scotland @opfs.org.uk Chief Executive 🎧 Listen here ➡️: podfollow.com/lawmanity/view

Thank you for shining a light on an issue affecting so many single parent families.

The Ferret@theferret.scot · 2mo ago

"All babies should be provided with a safe place to sleep" 

The tackling child poverty agenda in Scotland is entering a pivotal phase, with a new government at the helm and statutory targets coming due in 2030. In this blog, we set out our key priorities for child poverty research over the next five years. buff.ly/eTADkWT

Tackling child poverty in Scotland: new horizons for economic analysis

Since 2017, Scotland has been the only nation in the UK with statutory targets for reducing child poverty, placing the issue firmly at the centre of policymaking. The Fraser of Allander Institute…

fraserofallander.org

This week, OPFS gave evidence to MPs on the UK Child Poverty Strategy. Asked by @stevedarlingmp.bsky.social how the Govt can build trust in the strategy, @charischittick.bsky.social highlighted 3 key ingredients:

A key moment from our evidence to MPs on the UK Child Poverty Strategy: Too often, the debate focuses on the cost of tackling poverty. But as @charischittick.bsky.social highlighted, "Inaction on poverty is more expensive than prevention."

We were honoured to be the only Scottish organisation invited to give evidence to MPs today as part of the joint Work and Pensions and Education Committee inquiry into the UK Child Poverty Strategy.

Today, our Head of Strategy, Comm's and Policy, @charischittick.bsky.social, is giving evidence to MPs as part of the joint inquiry by the Education & Work and Pensions Committee into the UK Child Poverty Strategy.

Today, OPFS joins @jrf-uk.bsky.social and partners across Scotland to call for a stronger Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan. Around 30% of single parent families live with the devastating consequences of child poverty, something we see every day through the families we support.

The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act – time to go further?

Scottish Parliament set a high bar with the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act — but the Act's final delivery plan in March, by its own admission, doesn't go far enough.

jrf.org.uk

Could you support single parents to overcome barriers to employment? At OPFS, our Employability Advisors help families access opportunities, increase confidence and work towards long-term stability. We’re currently recruiting in East Renfrewshire. 📍 East Renfrewshire 🕒 Part time – 28 hours 📅 Clos

We’re looking for a Benefit, Debt & Money Advisor to join our Glasgow team. This role supports single parent families with money advice, financial wellbeing and access to the support they need. 📍 Glasgow 🕒 Full time – 35 hours 📅 Applications close 8 June Learn more and apply:

Join a national team creating impact for families across Scotland. Our Child Maintenance Project Officers will help deliver support, build partnerships and improve outcomes for single parent families. 📍 Various locations 🚗 Travel across Scotland required Apply : opfs.org.uk/get-involved...

We’re recruiting an Assistant Support Worker in Glasgow. This role supports single parent families facing financial hardship and helps connect people with practical support and services. 📅 Applications close 4 June Find out more: opfs.org.uk/get-involved...

Too many parents are making impossible choices between heating, food + other essentials. We’re backing @citizensadvicescot.bsky.social calls for a social tariff and stronger protections for low-income households. Full response: opfs.org.uk/get-involved... Our helpline is available to support

We’re recruiting an Employability Advisor in East Renfrewshire to support single parent families to build confidence, skills and opportunities for work. 🕒 Part time – 28 hours 📍 East Renfrewshire 📅 Applications close 4 June Find out more and apply: opfs.org.uk/get-involved...

We’re growing our Child Maintenance support team 💜 This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a national project supporting single parent families across Scotland. 📅 Applications close 8 June Apply: opfs.org.uk/get-involved... #ScotlandJobs #OPFS #ChildMaintenance #SingleParents