Volume 21, Issue 3 pp. 214-227

Do the Benefits Justify the Costs? An Evaluation of the ‘Sitter Service’ in Scotland

Valerie Wilson

Corresponding Author

Valerie Wilson

SCRE Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

*Valerie Wilson, Senior Research Fellow, SCRE Centre, University of Glasgow, St Andrew's Building, 11 Eldon St, Glasgow G3 6NH, UK, Tel.: 0141 330 3490; Fax: 0141 330 3491. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
Stuart Hall

Stuart Hall

SCRE Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

Search for more papers by this author
Julia Davidson

Julia Davidson

SCRE Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 06 September 2006

Abstract

This research identified the costs and benefits of the sitter service in Scotland. A ‘sitter service’ is one that provides home-based childcare outside the hours of 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays and at weekends to support children of shift workers, single parents/carers and for children who require additional support. Nine sitter services, organised by voluntary or not-for-profit organisations in Scotland, were contacted; their costs were compared and the views of sitters and users identified. For very little expenditure, they provided a service that resulted in a range of individual and community benefits. However, the research concludes that most sitter services are hat small scale and piecemeal funding endangers their long-term viability.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.