Edinburgh Transport 2 Employment (Parents) Grant

There should be funding available. The Transition Fund has run for several years, and in previous years it has not spent the full budget allocation. While future funding can't be guaranteed, based on past experience there has consistently been capacity within the fund, so an application would not be expected to face issues because the budget has already been used up.

The funding is intended for parents who are close to entering employment but face practical barriers, particularly transport-related barriers.

Any proposed project should clearly show that it is helping parents move into employment. Some training or preparatory support can be included, as participants may still need additional help before they are fully ready for work. However, the overall focus must be on supporting parents toward employment rather than providing general support with no employment outcome.

Yes, it can be included, but it should be clearly separated and costed within the application.

If the application has distinct components, make that explicit. Then, if the assessment panel likes most of the proposal but is not convinced by the more speculative element, they can choose to fund only the stronger parts of the project rather than rejecting the whole application.

Participants must be Edinburgh residents, but their job or work opportunity does not need to be in Edinburgh.

The funding is targeted at Edinburgh residents because that is the eligibility criterion set by the Scottish Government. However, if those residents need to travel outside Edinburgh for work, training, or employment opportunities, that is completely acceptable and can be supported through the project.

Both approaches are eligible.

The funding can support:

1. Parents who are already working with employability providers and need transport support to help them move towards employment.
2. New parents who are not currently receiving employability support, where the transport support may encourage them to engage with employability services and begin their journey towards work.

Yes. A project can include support for driving lessons for a parent where there is a clear link between learning to drive and overcoming a barrier to employment.

Potentially yes. Driving lessons can be supported when there is a clear, individual justification that learning to drive is necessary for that parent to move into employment.

No. The Scottish Government's guidance is that the fund is not intended to fund group driving lesson programmes as a standard offer.

Instead, driving lessons should be considered on a case-by-case basis, where a specific parent has a clear transport barrier and driving is the most appropriate solution.

Yes. There may be many parents in this situation and that applications can be built around addressing those barriers.

Yes, potentially. Group-based support can be included, provided it is clearly justified and demonstrates how it will help parents move towards employment. Applications should explain the need for the support and the expected employment outcomes.

Driving lessons must be justified on an individual basis. Applications should provide evidence that driving is necessary to overcome a specific barrier to employment for each parent receiving support. Driving lessons are not intended to be funded as a blanket offer for a group of parents.

Not necessarily. Applications that include driving lessons or other forms of support can be considered, provided they clearly:

• Identify who will receive the support.
• Explain why the support is needed.
• Demonstrate how it addresses barriers to employment.
• Provide a strong rationale for the proposed approach.

No decision has been made. If the programme is extended:

• Existing projects may be extended without opening a new application process.
• Alternatively, a new funding round may be launched if circumstances require it.

The approach will depend on programme performance, demand, and future funding arrangements.

It is too early to know whether there will be another opportunity to apply. This will depend on:

• Whether funding is extended beyond March.
• The level of interest and number of applications received in the current round.
• Whether existing funded projects are extended or a new funding round is launched.

Applicants should not assume that a future application opportunity will be available.

Possibly. A future application round may be opened to new providers, but there is no guarantee. It is equally possible that funding would be used to continue existing projects instead. At present, no decision has been made.

Yes. Applications that include driving lessons should consider what happens after a parent passes their test, including how they will access a vehicle. This is a common practical issue that may affect whether driving lessons successfully help someone move into employment, so applicants should address it where possible.

There are two acceptable approaches:

1. Include parent resources within the grant application as part of the wider programme budget (for example, training and associated support costs).
2. Separate the costs, using the grant application to fund the training/project delivery, while parents apply to the Transition Fund for resources they need (such as bikes or similar items).

Applicants can either build parent resource costs into their grant bid to secure a dedicated budget, or support parents to make separate Transition Fund applications. Final guidance on any limits within the grant application would be provided later.