The Parental Employment Support Fund provides intensive employability support for parents both in and out of work. In Edinburgh, the funds are managed by the Joined up for Families team, in partnership with funders, the City of Edinburgh Council. Read more about PESF projects below.
Access Data works is delivered by Access to Industry, and is aimed at parents residing in Edinburgh who are interested in training or re-training for jobs in the data sector. The client group will be unemployed or experiencing in-work poverty (and for whom access to re-training will enable a step up or a career change).
Emphasis will be on engaging parents who meet the priority groups: Parents with a disability or have a disabled child; from a minority ethnic background; women.
The project also works with parents who may not fit the above criteria but have 3+ children; who have a child under 1; who are under age 25.
Access to Industry deliver Access: Progress, an employability service aimed at unemployed parents across the city of Edinburgh.
Access Progress works holistically with parents - building positive and trusting relationships by offering support alongside welfare advice; financial planning & budgeting; housing & wellbeing support; skills based learning, and motivational support such as help with building confidence and self-esteem.
Sessions are held in a place of safety for the parents – accessing a room at their local childcare provision or school.
The Broomhouse Centre will work across local neighbourhoods in South West Edinburgh, engaging with parents who are out of work and in receipt of benefits as well as those who are in low-income employment.
The project will focus on three areas – employability, self-employment, and home working – to support individuals on their journey into, or back to work.
Workspace offers suitable tailored support, including access to new skills, practising interview techniques, helping with CV development, business start-up advice and contract or homeworking advice.
The Datakirk's BAMELYTICS Employability project targets parents in BAME communities, who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, experiencing barriers such as job losses, reduced hours, and financial difficulties.
BAMELYTICS includes 15-week programmes comprising of virtual learning, face-to-face, lab sessions, career development and networking events, working with parent learners for at least 5 hours per week.
The programme provides an introduction to data science for business and introduces participants to the exciting opportunities available at the intersection of Data Science, computing, and mathematics through hand-on activities.