The Parental Transition Fund is a Scottish Government initiative designed to support parents to progress into education, training, and employment, by removing the barriers that can prevent families from moving forward. Poverty rates in Edinburgh have remained largely unchanged in the past five years and meaningful work has a strong role to play in offering a sustainable route out of poverty for many families.
The fund is available to eligible parents from the six priority family groups who are already engaged with No One Left Behind (NOLB) funded employability services in Edinburgh. Organisations can apply to the fund on behalf of parents they are working with to provide support for essential costs to remove barriers to employment or education including clothing or equipment, transport, training fees, and short-term childcare amongst others, enabling parents to participate fully in employability activity.
The fund can also support parents with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), where they have the legal right to work, ensuring even more families can benefit from opportunities to build sustainable futures.
The Fund in Practice: Parents’ Stories
One single parent received support with transport costs to attend a job interview in the hospitality sector. She secured the role and continued to receive transport assistance during her first month of work, helping her manage costs until she received her first wage. One year later, she is undertaking further training for a promotion with her same employer, providing long term financial stability for herself and her daughter.
“That small bit of support gave me the chance to take that first step, and it has completely changed our lives.”
Supporting Parents with No Recourse to Public Funds
A parent with NRPF required short-term childcare support when starting full-time employment. Her child has additional support needs, including autism. Transition Fund assistance enabled appropriate childcare arrangements to be put in place, allowing her to begin employment while ensuring her child’s needs were met.
“This support meant the world to me. I could start my job knowing my son was cared for, it gave me the breathing space I needed to focus on myself.”
Enabling Participation in Education
One parent accessed funding to enrol in a short course in Administration and IT at Edinburgh College. The support enabled them to meet course-related costs that had previously prevented participation. The course has supported skills development and improved confidence in progressing toward employment.
Building Confidence
Another parent was referred through NOLB after her son, who has complex health needs, left school. Experiencing anxiety and depression, she initially struggled to engage outside of home.
Through supported engagement with local activities and Transition Fund assistance, she has gradually rebuilt her confidence and is now volunteering locally and preparing to return to work.
“A few months ago I couldn’t leave my house. Now I’m out walking, swimming and committed to volunteering and I feel like myself again”.
Supporting Flexible Learning
One parent undertaking a Data and Administration course required flexible study options due to her child’s additional needs. Transition Fund support for a personal laptop enabled her to continue her learning remotely and remain engaged with her course. Without this support, continuing her learning would have been impossible.
Why this Matters
Every story above begins with a small offer of support - a bus ticket, a laptop, childcare payments - but for these families each represented a big step towards a brighter future, by building confidence and new skills and learning.
The Parental Transition Fund plays an important role in removing practical and financial barriers that can limit parents’ participation in employability activity. By covering essential costs at key transition points, the fund supports parents to engage in learning, training and employment building confidence, skills and sustainable pathways toward improved outcomes for the whole family.
How to Apply
Service providers working with eligible parents through NOLB provision are invited to apply to the Parental Transition Fund on behalf of parents, using this application form and guidance notes below:
Parental Transition Fund Application Form 2025-26
Parental Transition Fund Application Guidance 2025-26
Key Information for Applicants
Examples of categories that can support progression include:
Queries and completed applications should be sent to:
pa*******************@***********ov.uk
Parents accessing support from other services are welcome to register with the Parental Employability Support (PES) team to look at accessing the Transition Fund. Services are encouraged to contact the PES team to discuss individual opportunities.
Feedback
If you have already applied to the Parental Transition Fund, we would welcome your feedback on the process and how it could be improved. Please share your views by completing this short survey: Complete the survey
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