• a web-based download service
• specialist user support
• training and workshops
• a range of value-added data enhancements for a number of key UK longitudinal data collections, including the Families and Children Study (FACS)

The Families and Children Study (FACS), formerly known as the Survey of Low Income Families (SOLIF), originally provided a new baseline survey of Britain's lone-parent families and low-income couples with dependent children. The survey was named SOLIF for Waves 1 and 2, and FACS from Wave 3 onwards.

The FACS study has become a 'true panel', whereby respondents in 1999 have been re-interviewed in subsequent annual waves. Starting with Wave 3 (2001) the survey was extended to include higher-income families, thereby yielding a complete sample of all British families (and the subsequent name change). From Wave 4 (2002) onwards, longitudinal comparisons can be made.

• evaluate the effectiveness of the Government's work incentive measures in terms of helping people into work, improving living standards and improving child outcomes
• compare the living standards and outcomes for children and for families across the income distribution
• compare changes in the above across the waves since 1999

Topics covered in the main interview include:

• household characteristics
• health and well-being
• behaviour and childcare provision
• use of local services
• education and training
• employment
• family income
• in-work support through the use of Working Families' Tax Credits (and its replacement system, the New Tax Credits)
• receipt of benefits
• money management and savings
• material deprivation

ESDS user documentation for the FACS can be downloaded from the Data Catalogue in the form of multi-volume user guides in PDF format from: www.esds.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=4427#doc