Family Wellbeing Partnership in Clackmannanshire: evaluation - summary report

Summary Report

The Scottish Government commissioned Horizons Research to undertake an evaluation of the Family Wellbeing Partnership (FWP) in Clackmannanshire. The evaluation had three primary aims. It sought to examine how the FWP is working in practice and how and whether it is leading to any ‘system changes’ through the design and delivery of services. It also aimed to understand families’ experiences of the FWP and the outcomes achieved. Lastly, the evaluation aimed to distil learning and provide insights for further development of the FWP.

The evaluation was conducted between March 2024 and March 2025, using a range of primarily qualitative research methods. This report presents key findings from the evaluation.

Context

The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act of 2017 sets ambitious targets for reducing child poverty by 2030. This includes reducing the number of children living in relative poverty in Scottish households to less than 10% by 2030.^[1] To reach this target, the Scottish Government developed the ‘Every Child, Every Chance’ delivery plan for 2018-2022, followed by the ‘Best Start, Bright Futures’ plan for 2022-2026. The second plan sets out an approach to holistic family support at all levels. It includes a commitment to working with local authorities to develop more enabling models of support through place-based partnerships.

Designed and implemented at the local level, the FWP was set up in 2020 with investment from the Social Innovation Partnership (SIP), a collaboration between the Scottish Government, the Hunter Foundation, and a selection of social entrepreneurs. The SIP seeks to improve wellbeing and life chances beyond meeting the material needs of disadvantaged communities, by placing a greater focus on people’s capabilities while supporting their long-term goals. Initially developed as a partnership between Clackmannanshire Council, local communities in Alloa South and East, the Scottish Government and philanthropic funders, the FWP now includes a range of public and third sector stakeholders and has expanded geographically.

The FWP aims to create the conditions for improving people’s wellbeing and capabilities, so everyone has the opportunity to flourish. It seeks to improve family wellbeing and tackle child poverty by supporting families at risk of poverty through a place-based and person-centred approach. Importantly, it seeks to transform public service delivery towards a preventative and relational model. This person-centred approach includes putting the voice and agency of the Clackmannanshire community at the centre of decision-making.

Since 2020, what began as a series of connected projects working together to address child poverty has become an integrated approach to service delivery across the council. By summer 2024, the FWP was widely regarded amongst Clackmannanshire FWP stakeholders as a successful model and a catalyst for wider system transformation, by enabling practitioners and elected members to reimagine service delivery in a collaborative and person-centred way.

While the FWP has grown to encompass a wide range of projects, the first four interconnected workstreams consisted of: Safeguarding Through Rapid Intervention (STRIVE), the Child Wellbeing Partnership (CWP), Community Around The School (CATS) and Enhancing Employability. Definitions and descriptions of these workstreams are found below. They form the basis of the FWP’s collaborative model of family support services and are the main focus of this evaluation.