There are over two million lone-parent families in the UK - including one in three children. Since the late 1990s, the key policy targets have included raising employment rates and reducing in-work poverty.

Dr Susan Harkness, Professor Jane Millar and Prof Tess Ridge have been engaged in innovative and influential research on lone-parenthood over many years.

Their work has helped in the development and evaluation of policies intended to help lone parents move into, and remain in, work. Specifically, it has influenced the design and delivery of the New Deal for Lone Parents, Tax Credits, and policies to improve lone parent job retention. These policies have a direct and continuing impact on the social and economic circumstances, and quality of life, of the families.

Impact case study

This research was submitted to the Research Excellence Framework 2014.