Fair Start Scotland: annual report - year 2

2. Story of Year 2 : Highlights

Key figures^vi

• A total of 34,755 referrals were made to Fair Start Scotland in the first two years of the service. Of those, 64% subsequently chose to participate.
• A total of the 22,140 people joined the service during the same period.
• 6,621 participants had started a job.
• 72% of those who started a job sustained employment for at least 3 months.
• 77% of those who sustained employment for at least 3 months went on to reach at least 6 months.
• 76% of those who sustained employment for 6 months went on to reach at least 1 year.
• 65% of those joining Fair Start Scotland reported having a long-term health condition and 47% were disabled.

Comparisons between Year 1 and 2

• 70% of those who were referred subsequently chose to join the service in Year 2, an increase of 12% from Year 1.
• 12,077 people joined the service in Year 2, a 20% increase from Year 1 (10,063).
• While more men than women joined the service in Year 2 (63%), the proportion of women joining the service has increased from 35% in Year 1 to 37% in Year 2.
• The number of reported ethnic minority participants increased from 364 in Year 1 to 736 in Year 2.
• There was a 5 percentage point increase in people who joined Fair Start Scotland reporting a mental health condition (34% over the two years) from Year 1.

Compared with Year 1, Year 2 had:

• A higher proportion of female participants
• A lower proportion of disabled participants
• A higher proportion of younger participants (aged 16-34)

Compared with Year 1 of the service, Year 2 has a higher proportion of:

• Lone parents
• Participants with convictions
• Refugees
• Those who are care experienced

Early leavers

• 8,407 (51%) of people who started Fair Start Scotland left the service early^[1].

What people think of Fair Start Scotland^vii

• 91% of people feel they were treated with dignity and respect.
• 80% of people felt the service took account of their individual needs and circumstances.
• 81% of people felt the service offered support to improve their general quality of life and wellbeing.
• 80% felt they were in control of their progress on the service.