Social Security Experience Panels - Seldom Heard research programme: mobile populations

Introduction

The Social Security Experience Panels were established by researchers in the Scottish Government in 2017. Scottish Government researchers work with Panel members to bring the voices of those with lived experience into the design of the new social security system in Scotland. Social Security Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government responsible for delivering benefits in Scotland. There are groups of people with lived experience that are less likely to be represented on the panels. The "Seldom Heard Voices" research programme was set up to address this gap. It ensures that groups who need to be treated with particular sensitivity and those who are marginalised or dispersed, also have a voice in designing Scotland's social security services. There are four groups identified as 'Seldom Heard' in this research programme. They are Mobile Populations, Vulnerable Groups, End of Life; and Carers and Care Experienced. For each group two waves of fieldwork were undertaken.

This is the report for the two waves of the Mobile Populations strand. Mark Diffley Consultancy and Research (now Diffley Partnership) was commissioned by the Scottish Government to carry out the fieldwork which was undertaken between 2019 and 2022^[1]. The analysis was carried out by Scottish Government researchers.

There are three sub-groups in this strand: Gypsy/Travellers and refugees and seasonal migrant workers.