A New Model for Supporting Single Parents into Work

Beginning with an initial small-scale intervention in Glasgow, their work focuses on building trust, confidence and access to support. The early signs suggest the potential for long-term systemic impact; this is just the beginning of the story. 

The driving forces behind this initiative are Anna Cleland, Managing Director at Barclays and Christine McLaughlin, Co-Director Population Health at Scottish Government who just recently completed the Forward Institute 2023 Fellowship Programme.  

Their partnership began not in a planning session, but on a walk. During a Fellowship residential in Manchester, a conversation along the canal opened something new. Christine spoke about child poverty in Scotland, and Anna shared her perspective on barriers for women in business. They found common ground, which established a connection that deepened into trust. Both women were clear from the start they didn’t want to create something that wasn't useful or was a duplication of work, there was a feeling early on this was something different.

What was the challenge you were trying to address? 

Child poverty in Scotland is a persistent and systemic issue with one of the major triggers being generational unemployment. Child poverty disproportionately affects single-parent families, with women making up around 90 percent of single parents in Scotland, they are at the sharpest edge. Many face long-term poverty, limited access to secure employment and poorer health outcomes. What Christine and Anna set out to do was create skills and employment interventions in the system that help to break generational cycles that were different to what already exists.  

Glasgow, where Barclays has recently opened a major new campus, includes some of the highest areas of deprivation in Scotland. At the same time, the city holds extraordinary potential. Barclays has identified Scotland as a key growth region, with a focus on supporting female entrepreneurs and small businesses.

What did you do to address the challenge? 

From there, they began testing. Anna mapped existing programmes within Barclays, including life skills support, citizenship initiatives and the national Eagle Labs network. She spoke with colleagues across Scotland to explore what more could be done on the ground. Christine brought in a government policy lens and connected with Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government child poverty and economy policy teams to ensure the work was aligned and welcomed. Together, they designed and delivered two workshops in Glasgow, one for single parents and one for young people aged 16 to 25. A third sector organisation, One Parent Families Scotland helped select participants. The workshops were intentionally informal and practical, focused on building confidence, making support visible and offering inspiration through lived experience. 

Three social entrepreneurs with lived experience were invited to share their journeys. Two had overcome significant systemic barriers and navigated the challenges of building businesses that now support others. Their presence brought credibility, energy and a strong sense of possibility.

What impact do you believe the workshops had and will continue to have? 

The single parent workshop revealed something powerful. Many participants had key life experience, ideas and resilience, but lacked confidence. As Anna put it, “These women already know how to do a lot with a little. They just don’t yet recognise that as strength.” The workshops planted a seed.  

A follow-up session is now planned, bringing together participant feedback, new opportunities and the next phase of support. If even one participant decides to take the next step, Barclays is ready, with mentorship, workspace, tailored advice and, if needed, financial support. Even just one uptake could have a huge impact that could change the trajectory of a family and begin to break the cycle of generational poverty. Beyond the workshops, the initiative has started wider conversations about how organisations engage with those living complex lives, and how confidence and trust must be part of any offer of support. 

Beyond the participants, the workshops have already prompted wider conversations inside Barclays and government. There is interest in using this model to explore NHS employment pathways, and to create deeper collaboration across Glasgow’s business and policy communities.  Helping people into work is just the first stage on the journey – keeping people in work is the ultimate aim and will need support from many partners, so this work will be long term.   

What are your learnings so far? 

Start with a relationship ​

This work was not planned in a strategy document. It grew from human connection and a willingness to listen. 

Keep the focus tight

Choosing to focus on single parents in Glasgow made it easier to design something specific and responsive. It also made learning easier to act on. 

The right storytellers matter

The entrepreneurs who spoke had walked similar paths. Their stories created trust and made change feel achievable. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Be patient with impact

Not everyone will act immediately. Some people are living in difficult or chaotic circumstances. Change might come six months or even a year later. 

Do you have any advice for leaders taking on complex societal issues?​​​​​

Align with your values

Choose something that matters to you. Anna's manager encouraged her to find a challenge that connected to both her role and her personal values. That alignment made the work more meaningful.

Start small, at first

Christine reflected that the pressure to scale can be a barrier to getting started. The most effective work often starts with a small, careful intervention. Don't be afraid to experiment and adjust.

Design with empathy

The choice of venue, tone and structure influenced how people showed up. Careful design created a space that felt safe, inclusive and welcoming. Without belief, people will not step forward. Designing support that builds confidence must be part of any intervention.

Bring in multiple perspectives

The mix of government, business, charity partners and lived experience made this work stronger. Collaboration is not just helpful, it is essential.

What role did the Forward Institute play? 

Everything began with the connection. The Fellowship gave Christine and Anna the structure, space and permission to step outside their day-to-day roles and build trust. 

Their leadership exchange deepened the relationship further. It allowed them to understand one another’s world, beyond job titles or sectors, and gave them confidence to move from shared reflection to shared action.