In October 2025, renowned researchers Professor (Emerita) Karen McArdle, FRSA, and Sue Briggs, MBE, unveiled the findings of their independent research study on Step by Step, commissioned and funded by the William Grant Foundation.

The report explored five key questions:

• What are the strength and limitations of Step By Step’s policy and practice?
• What makes Step By Step different in its services and ways of operating?
• Is Step By Step a value for money project and a ‘safe pair of hands?’
• What is the perceived profile of Step By Step by funders, stakeholder, referrers and of course, staff, volunteers and participants and are these congruent?
• How and in what ways could Step By Step improve over the next 3 years?

Addressing invited guests from statutory bodies, private sector organisations, and third sector partners at the launch event in Elgin on 9th October (with an online session held on 10th October), Professor McArdle and Sue Briggs shared insights drawn from their observations, interviews, and document reviews.

They concluded:

“Step By Step is a very well-run organisation with clear mission and goals, effective planning for delivery, mutual respect amongst all staff and volunteers, valued by wider stakeholders and funders with an evident impact being made on the lives of those with whom they work.”

One of the standout findings was the concept of Family Wisdom, which the researchers identified as Step by Step’s unique selling point and central to its ethos. This approach embraces and applies qualities such as tolerance, patience, humility, attachment, kindness, nurturing, and empathy in a way that sets Step by Step apart.

Professor McArdle remarked:

“It takes a village to raise a child. Step by Step is a village.”

Val Fowles, Chair of Step by Step in Moray, added:

“At Step By Step we build community. A community of welcome, trust and acceptance.  Thank you to all who make this happen: families, staff, volunteers, trustees, funders, partner agencies.”

The Researchers

Professor Karen McArdle: Karen has more than 30 years’ experience of community research using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research. In the past this has included studies for UNESCO and the Australian Federal Government, as well as State Governments. Most recently she has conducted narrative inquiry interviews across Fife, Scotland to identify the impact of Covid 19 on vulnerable and disadvantaged people. She has worked with Police Scotland to identify methods of improving communication with BAME communities, across Scotland, in association with Dundee City Council and the University of Dundee. She has written a number of books, including on research methods, the impact of community work and theory in practice for community work.

 Sue Briggs, MBE: Sue has over 30 years’ experience of working in community settings as both a practitioner and a manager. She has built her experience around rural development work, quality assurance methods, practitioner training and development and research and analysis. Latterly her portfolio included regional and national work and she has contributed to three publications relevant to broad based community work. Sue was awarded an MBE in 2023 for her contribution to community learning and development work in Scotland.

Read the full report here: Research and Evaluation Report 2025

View the online presentation here (please note the video has been edited to remove some technical issues):