1. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Moving Parents Towards Employment: Working for Families Fund – Phase 1 Evaluation Professor Ronald McQuaid and Evaluation Team Employment Research Institute Napier University, Edinburgh 23 March 2007 Website: http://www.napier.ac.uk/WFFE

2. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Introduction Who is WFF for? What is the WFF Evaluation about? Who participated in WFF? What happened? So What? – Conclusions

3. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Who is it for? To assist disadvantaged parents in deprived areas and groups towards, into or within work education, training or employment People face multiple barriers to progress, especially childcare barriers

4. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Target Groups Parents on low income (maximum Child Tax Credit and WTC) Lone parents - pre New Deal; entering employment; trying to retain jobs or improve their hours/earnings; and/or going into further and higher education. Parents with other stresses in the household e.g. disability, mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems.

5. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Clients Views I wanted help in getting back to work. After having my children I was going through post natal depression, and she [the Parent Champion] helped me… it was her who helped me to go back into work. She has been a great encouragement. You know after being at home looking after your kids your confidence goes a bit… and she gave me the insight for going back in to work. Emma, 42. Living with Partner/Spouse. Situation before WFF: Caring for her children. Situation after WFF: Relief work. Children: 19, 14, 12 and 3 years old. Left school at 16 with 2 O Grades. (Highlands, Parent Champion, Easter Ross)

6. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 What is WFF Evaluation about? Two year period: 2004-06 (Plus on-going Phase 2 evaluation) What has happened? Does it make a difference? Helping LAs to improve WFF as it goes along (e.g. ….)

7. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Phase 1 covers ten Local Authorities Highland East Ayrshire West Dunbartonshire Inverclyde Dumfries & Galloway Glasgow North Lanarkshire Renfrewshire Dundee City North Ayrshire

8. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 What Does WFF Do? Each LA develops its own programme Works in strategic and operational partnerships Complementing but not replacing existing services (Helps) fill gaps in existing provision Flexible and innovative

9. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Local Authorities have: Based in Economic Development departments Key Worker Programmes (1 to 1; continuity, holistic) Projects: - Themed (e.g. Money advice) -Client Groups (e.g. Parents in Education) -Childcare (e.g. Developing childminders)

10. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 What Does WFF Do? Example WFF Key Workers WFF Money Advise Project WFF Transport Project WFF Childcare Subsidy Scheme WFF Sitter Service WFF Personal Development Programme Job Centre Plus Specialist Health Services Childcare Provider Training Provider Careers Service

11. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Who participated in WFF? 5,808 clients registered with the Working for Families Fund (WFF) up until 31 March 2006 11,929 clients up until 31 December 2006

12. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Total Clients Numbers – Phase 1

13. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Who are WFF Clients? 93% Female 72% Lone Parents 61% in workless households 95% with one or more children under 12 years and (48% with a child under 3)

14. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Age of Youngest Child in Scotland (Census 2001) compared to among WFF Clients

15. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Qualifications (%) compared to Scotland (Census 2001)

16. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Clients Views My goal at the end of all this is to get into support work and what I find with [Project Worker] is she actually supports me … in what I need to do, what I need to get. I’ve not got the qualifications, but I’ve lots of life skills and in-house training and other training I’ve been on, but I need [a qualification] in Social Care. That’s what this three year training course is going to allow me to do. Bernadette, 40. Lone Parent. Situation before WFF: Unemployed/ Situation after WFF: Doing an SVQ. Children: two 15 years old. Qualifications: None, now working towards an SVQ. (Glasgow, Guidance Project Mental Health)

17. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 What did Clients Do before WFF? Main Economic Activity at Point of Registration

18. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Barriers to getting work Caring Responsibilities – caring for children or adults and lack of or cost of childcare services Opportunities and Skills – lack of appropriate jobs (e.g. pay or type of work), discrimination by employers, lack of qualifications, skills, experience or confidence. Other Issues – benefits issues, debt/money problems, housing problems, learning disabilities, literacy/numeracy difficulties, alcohol/substance abuse, criminal/police record, physical disability, physical or mental health issues. Transport – lack of private and public transport, cost of public transport and Inability to drive.

19. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 % of Clients indicating one of these as a barrier to employment etc.

20. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Clients Views … And then John (my partner) he got paid off…They [WFF] have helped John back to work, driving lessons when we could not afford them when he was out of work. They got him through his test …. But definitely I wouldn’t be sitting here if it wasn’t for WFF. I’m really, really pleased. Pam, 39. Living with Partner/Spouse. Situation before WFF: working in the Co-op. Situation after WFF: moved into full time self-employment - childminding. Children: 7 years old. Qualifications: none. (East Ayrshire, WMA)

21. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 What happened? Over £12 million spent

22. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Types of outcomes: ‘Hard’ Outcomes/Transitions - the person went into employment, education, training, improved their job etc. Main focus. Soft Outcomes: Intermediate Activities - activities such as participating in a substantial non-accredited short course, that contributes towards progress towards employment etc. Soft Outcomes: Improved Employability - including distance travelled.

23. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 The WFF Evaluation (2004-2006) Outcomes Main Outcome for All Clients Registered with WFF

24. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 The WFF Evaluation (2004-2006) Outcomes % of Clients by ‘Hard’ Transition

25. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Outcomes to December 2006 ‘Hard’ Outcomes - 5,094 (43%) (and who got them) Intermediate Activities - 418 (4%) Registered in last 6 months - 2,545 (21%)

26. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Other Considerations Deadweight (they would have got work etc. anyway)? Are WFF clients displacing others in work etc.? What are the effects on childcare provision (prices, availability). Need good local monitoring? Are there other positive and negative impacts? WFF is focusing on less well off in Scotland, but within the WFF client groups who is achieving less?

27. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 So What? – Conclusions WFF has made a worthwhile impact on a significant number of peoples’ lives Shown short-term gains, but long-term ones may be greater Initial cost-benefit analysis is fairly positive (need longer period in operation) Some Key Success Factors –Clear focus on employment –Key Worker and holistic approaches –Complementing existing services –Working in Partnership –Continues to be about learning for everyone

28. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Clients Views It ’ s made me feel that there is more to life than just being in the house and stuck on benefits. There is a lot more to life, and I just want to give the bairns [children] a better life. It ’ s going to give me a lot of more independence. I am really looking forward to just working, working and making my own money, and not being on the benefits. That ’ s what I ’ d really like to come off, it ’ s the benefits. I just really like to be independent and give something back. Lucy, 39. Lone Parent. Situation before WFF: unemployed single parent. Situation after WFF: moved into self-employment, coming off benefits. Children: 11, 8 and 7 years old. Qualifications: no qualifications (East Ayrshire, Clients into Work) It’s made me feel that there is more to life than just being in the house and stuck on benefits. There is a lot more to life, and I just want to give the bairns [children] a better life. It’s going to give me a lot of more independence. I am really looking forward to just working, working and making my own money, and not being on the benefits. That’s what I’d really like to come off, it’s the benefits. I just really like to be independent and give something back. Lucy, 39. Lone Parent. Situation before WFF: unemployed single parent. Situation after WFF: moved into self-employment, coming off benefits. Children: 11, 8 and 7 years old. Qualifications: no qualifications (East Ayrshire, Clients into Work)

29. Working for Families Fund, Phase One (2004-06) Evaluation 23 March 2007 Working for Families Fund – Phase 1 Evaluation Employment Research Institute Napier University Edinburgh EH14 1DJ WFF@NAPIER.AC.UK Website: http://www.napier.ac.uk/WFFE