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Evaluation of project to address child poverty published
Tuesday 3 September 2024 - 15:49
An independent evaluation of a project based in Shetland that aims to tackle child poverty has been published.
The report, titled "A Co-constructed and Co-produced Evaluation of the Anchor Project in Shetland" details the evaluation methodology and process and covers key aspects such as, critical success factors, learning and the benefits of the project.
Anchor derived from the recognition of local planners in Shetland that wider systems needed to prioritise early intervention and prevention for those who were not yet in crisis in order to help keep them out of statutory services such as social work and the criminal justice system or police attention. This ambition aligned with Scottish Government policy aims focused on addressing child poverty and keeping children, young people, and families at the heart of services.
Shetland’s Community Planning Partnership envisaged and implemented the Anchor Early Action Systems Change Project in 2018, pre the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing (22/23/24) cost of living crisis. A key driver was recognising the need for planning and actions to address child poverty in the context of the inflated cost of living on the Islands rather than deprivation alone. Additionally, a commitment to early intervention, prevention and interdisciplinary working was an integral part of service planning and delivery in Shetland.
The Anchor Project sits within an ambitious Scottish Government policy landscape to eradicate child poverty through involving children and families in a fair and inclusive manner. The overall aim of Anchor was to facilitate learning and action in family led problem solving and early intervention.
Families are placed at the centre of decision making and the purpose is to direct resources towards early action rather than crisis management. A further aim was to enable system change by giving families and services the space to try out new ways of working together, moving from crisis intervention to early intervention and prevention.
One Anchor project particpant said:
“I have been involved with the project for some time now, receiving support at times on a weekly basis. The support has been a huge benefit in a number of ways. These involve food packages and clothes when I’m in desperate need due to a low income and growing children.
"I think the biggest benefit however has been being able to speak to one of the anchor workers. We often speak through texts and phone calls. When things have gotten really hard, she has always been a phone call away for reassurance and support".
The report was co-produced by a team of researchers from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and staff from Shetland Islands Council and was funded by the Scottish Government. The full report can be found at the link below.