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Funding & Support for Parents & Carers

Helping Parents Build Brighter Futures

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If you’re a parent or carer with a child under the age of 18 living at home and earn less than £33,000 a year, you could be eligible for fully funded part-time learning at Dumfries and Galloway College.

Whether you’re looking to return to work, develop new skills, gain a recognised qualification or progress in your current career, we’re here to help you take the next step.

Many of our courses are designed to fit around work and family life, and you may also be eligible for support with travel and childcare costs, depending on your circumstances.

Who can apply?

Funding is available to parents and carers who:

  • Live in Scotland (including people with refugee status or seeking asylum)
  • Are a parent or carer with a child under 18 living at home
  • Have an individual annual income below £33,000

While applications are welcome from all eligible parents and carers, priority may be given to:

  • Lone-parent families
  • Families with a disabled adult or child
  • Families with three or more children
  • Minority ethnic families
  • Families with a child under one year old
  • Families where the mother is under the age of 25

Complete the application form to check your eligibility and learn more about the support available.

Apply Here

Available Funding

Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) Fund

The RISE Fund supports parents and carers to gain new skills through flexible learning that fits around family commitments.

This funding can help you:

  • Gain recognised qualifications
  • Improve your employment prospects
  • Build confidence and develop new skills
  • Progress into further study or employment

To be eligible for the RISE Fund, you must:

  • Be living in Scotland full time (including those with refugee status or asylum seekers)
  • Be a parent or carer
  • Have a child at home who is under 18 years old
  • Earn an individual income of below £33,000.
  • Be in employment/unemployed

Training Access Fund (TAF)

The Training Access Fund (TAF) provides funded training for parents and carers who are already in work and want to develop their skills or progress their career.

If you’re balancing work and family responsibilities, TAF can help you access training without the financial barriers.

To be eligible for the TAF, you must:

  • Be living in Scotland full time (including those with refugee status or asylum seekers)
  • Be a parent or carer
  • Have a child at home who is under 18 years old
  • Earn an individual income of below £33,000.
  • Be in employment

New Flexible Workforce Development Fund (New FWDF)

The New Flexible Workforce Development Fund supports employers and employees by providing funded training opportunities that develop workforce skills.

The fund is available to eligible employees earning less than £33,000 per year who are:

  • Parents or carers with a child under 18 living at home
  • Aged under 24
  • Care experienced or disabled and aged under 30

Employers must be based in Scotland and either already demonstrate Fair Work practices or be working towards them.

Please note: The New Flexible Workforce Development Fund is separate from the Flexible Workforce Development Fund introduced in 2017.

Employers – Unlock Funding to Develop Your Workforce

Take the first step by completing our application form and discover how we can help your team reach its full potential.

Apply Here