We’re working in partnership with the third sector to support people facing the greatest barriers to employment into work.
The National Third Sector Fund offers employability support to unemployed people across Scotland. The main age range of participants is 16-29 although the fund can also support any individuals of working age. It’s delivered by third sector organisations and targets individuals assessed at stage one of the employability skills pipeline. Some individuals may still get offered support at stage two and three.
Each third sector delivery partner offers a range of bespoke support services. These organisations include:
- Princes Trust Consortium (Princes Trust/Action for Children/Barnardos)
- SCVO Consortium (Apex, Enable & Right Track)
- Street League
- Venture Trust
- Rathbone
- Momentum
- Springboard
- Barnardo’s/Scottish Waterways Trust
- Lead Scotland
- Third Sector Hebrides
SDS was allocated funding to operate the National Third Sector Fund from the Employability Strategic Intervention, which was one of the first to be approved as part of Scotland’s 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Fund programmes.
The strategic aims for the Employability SI are:
- To promote sustainable and quality employment and support labour mobility
- To provide direct routes to sustainable employment for unemployed and inactive people with multiple barriers
- To increase the skills and labour market opportunities for employed people with multiple barriers
The National Third Sector Fund is delivered by third sector organisations and is managed and administered by Skills Development Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. The European Social Fund funds this initiative.
