Evaluation of Cowan Grove Mother and Child Recovery House

This summary report presents the findings from an independent evaluation of Cowan Grove, our Mother and Child Recovery House in Dundee, carried out by Social Value Lab. Covering the first 17 months of the service, from December 2022 to March 2024, the report explores the impact of our approach on mothers, their children, and the wider system of support.

Cowan Grove is part of our commitment to supporting families affected by alcohol and drug use. Through a safe, residential environment, we support mothers to focus on recovery while remaining with their children. Our service offers a structured and personalised programme, bringing together parenting support, therapeutic interventions, recovery tools, and life skills to meet individual needs.

The independent evaluation highlights strong evidence of positive outcomes. It shows that mothers supported through Cowan Grove have improved their mental and physical health, built confidence, and strengthened their parenting capacity. The nurturing environment we provide also helps to develop stronger relationships between mothers and their children, supporting families to stay together where possible. 

The report also reflects the wider value of the service. It demonstrates how our model helps to reduce the need for children to enter care and delivers significant social and economic benefits. For every £1 invested, the service is estimated to generate more than £10.62 in social value. 

Alongside these findings, the evaluation offers important insights and recommendations that will help shape the future development of our services, including the expansion of Mother and Child Recovery Houses in other areas.

Download the report to explore the independent findings and recommendations in more detail.