Our Impact
We’re constantly reviewing our work and collecting feedback to ensure that we have the greatest impact on the women and girls who take part in our programmes.
Every story, journey and voice is so important.
We are delighted to present the results of our newly published Impact Report which was commissioned by the Hunter Foundation and the Scottish Government and produced by Improvement Services. Read about the key findings below.
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If you would like to request the full report please get in touch by email at hello@msmissmrs.co.uk or call us on 0141 945 0244.
'‘Life changing’ MsMissMrs work supporting Glasgow’s women and addressing child poverty was worth £3m in a year after £165k investment'
MsMissMrs helped more than 100 women rebuild their lives and saved over half a million pounds for the public purse in just a year, according to our new report produced by Improvement Service Scotland.
MsMissMrs provides financial, emotional, social and practical support to disadvantaged women and their families in communities across Glasgow.
We take a holistic approach to helping women overcome inequalities such as poverty and trauma. This means the support offered is wide-ranging and led by participants – from courses aimed at improving emotional wellbeing, opportunities to connect with other women in our community, support in accessing the benefits they are entitled to and boosting income, to community-based food and nutrition sessions and more.
“Having people see my potential rather than my situation changed my life”
Nearly every woman interviewed described the experience as “life changing”. Some women were able to start work after a period of unemployment while others started businesses or went into further education. Both participants and referral organisations emphasised the benefit MsMissMrs had to women’s families and wider communities, including the improvement in school and nursery attendance for some children.
Researchers estimated the organisation’s impact to be worth £3,043,064 between April 2022 and March 2023, based on analysis carried out this year. Researchers considered savings from preventing public sector intervention as well as financial and quality of life improvements experienced by the women who participated.
MsMissMrs supported 105 women during the period from an investment of £165,000, meaning an £18 return for every £1 spent.
The organisation has sustained this level of impact through 2024, with all investment allowing MsMissMrs support to benefit more women and their families year on year.
Report Summary
MsMissMrs:
The vision of MsMissMrs is that women and girls living in communities across Scotland are empowered to overcome life inequalities and thrive.
Evaluation approach:
Two separate evaluation reports were carried out which demonstrate both the impact and monetary value of MsMissMrs. The impact evaluation focusses on the emotional, social, financial and practical support provided by MsMissMrs to ‘rebuild’ women which takes place in a range of settings including the community assets owned by MsMissMrs– the wellbeing hub and a community kitchen (femfoods), schools, prisons - indeed any location where there are women. Whilst the cost to benefits evaluation places a financial value on the benefits reported by the women who have been supported by MsMissMrs and also reflects the cost savings this has delivered to the public sector.
Key findings:
The key findings reflect the findings from both evaluations which cover the period April 2022 to March 2023. During that time 105 women were supported by MsMissMrs from an investment of £165,000. The approach adopted by MsMissMrs is unique as it enables participating women to reach their potential by providing the material resources required to remove any barriers which stop individual women accessing capability-enhancing support.
Almost all the women who have participated in the activities and personal support provided by MsMissMrs described their experience as ‘life changing’. In the course of the one to one interviews women described how they felt more confident, capable and resilient. This illustrates how the project offers an approach that is capable of supporting individuals to achieve their personal goals and also provides a route to early intervention if problems arise in the future.
The Value:
The monetised impact of MsMissMrs would appear to be £3,043,064. Almost all the women live in areas of multiple deprivation – based on SIMD1 classifications in the 10% most deprived areas in Scotland. The organisations making referrals are also based in these areas. Whilst all the referrers interviewed stressed the benefits MsMissMrs offers to the women who are supported, they also highlighted the positive impact this had on the individual woman’s family and the wider community. Between April 2022 and March 2023 individuals reported financial gains of £170,679 as a result of support from MsMissMrs. A conservative estimate of the cost savings to the public sector was £508,610. The benefits to the women participants equate to £2,534,454.
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Conclusions:​
The approach adopted by MsMissMrs is unique in that it enables participating women to reach their potential by providing both capability-enhancing support and the material resources required to remove barriers and enable the engagement needed to make that happen.
This is done by establishing relationships with individuals so that a culture is created in which individuals feel comfortable expressing their needs and are confident that these will be understood and addressed. Staff at MsMissMrs provide women with the resources they need from the outset and address any barriers on an individual basis. There is a recognition that if women are worried about debt, childcare or where their next meal is coming from then they will not be able to consider their social, emotional or health needs. MsMissMrs takes care of these barriers in a practical way. For some women it may be accessing benefits, others may require help with childcare and others may need assistance with transport.
The support provided at femfoods, as well as offering opportunities for social interaction, allows women to batch cook. This means women can readily access fresh, healthy produce and contributes towards reducing food poverty. Given the current ‘Cost of Living’ crisis this is particularly relevant.
When they feel ready women are supported to take part in the GET S.E.T. REBUILD Programme. As a result of the relationships that have been established material and emotional support continues to enable women to fulfil their aspirations. This again varies from individual to individual and can range from improving family relationships to setting up a small business.
The level of contact varies according to the needs of the individual but what is critical is that it is continuous. Many of the women stated that should problems arise in the future they would make contact before crisis point is reached. This illustrates how the project offers an approach that is capable of supporting individuals to achieve their goals and also providing a route to early intervention if problems arise in the future.
Whilst all the referrers interviewed stressed the benefits MsMissMrs offers to the women who are supported, they also highlighted the positive impact this had on the individual woman’s family and the wider community. Referrers indicated that they were increasingly making referrals to MsMissMrs because of the unique approach and value of the organisation. Concerns were expressed about the organisation’s ability to cope with greater demands as awareness of what is offered increases without adequate funding.
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​To request the full report please email hello@msmissmrs.co.uk
Anna, 33*
“I was living in a refuge, unemployed, unqualified and trying to financially survive. I was put in touch with MsMissMrs through my daughter’s nursery. They supported me in all kinds of ways but mostly to achieve more for my future so mine and my daughter’s lives would look different.
With the support I moved to a new home, qualified as a wellbeing therapist and now run my own business and offer opportunities to others. My daughter is in sports and dance clubs and enjoys the life that a child should. Having people see my potential rather than my situation changed my life.”
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*names have been changed protect anonymity
Sally, 37*
“I was referred through my GP. My family was struggling as my mental health was low. I felt alone, money was tight and I was raising two children with disabilities who rarely left the house due to money worries and my social anxiety. Talking to people was hard.
“I had been in the system as a child, authority scared me and I was worried about losing my children if I was honest about my struggles. Because of the support to ask for help, my children were properly assessed. I am now able to afford the clubs, clothes and nutrition my kids need to help them thrive. MsMissMrs gave me a safe space to start to sort my life out – I still have bad days but I can cope.”
Sarah, 31*
“I came to MsMissMrs after the job centre referred me. Due to my mental health and anxiety, I was living with my mum who was supporting me in caring for my son. It was difficult for me to leave the house and get my wee boy to nursery.
“I attended one of the self-esteem groups and learned about how to take care of myself and set boundaries. The team also supported me in getting my wee boy a nursery space. They also helped me attend a nail course and I am now a qualified nail artist. I am now back driving my car which I couldn't do before. I have moved to a new home and have settled into the community and my wee boy is flourishing in nursery.”