We want to see a Scotland where paid work is a more reliable route out of poverty. While employability is important, simply getting people into work is not enough: too often, jobs do not protect people from falling below the poverty line.
Work will never be the solution for everyone, and a strong social security system remains essential. Where appropriate, however, we aim to ensure that work provides a stable pathway out of poverty by tackling structural barriers, improving pay and hours, increasing progression, and supporting the realisation of workers’ rights.
Our approach involves working with individuals, employers, intermediary bodies, and policymakers to drive systemic change. We target support toward groups most at risk of facing barriers to work, including people with disabilities, lone parents, carers, women, people from Black and ethnically minoritised communities, and those with low qualifications. We also focus on sectors with high rates of low pay and job insecurity, such as hospitality, health and social care, and retail.
We embed principles from the Fair Work Framework — voice, security, opportunity, fulfilment, and respect — into the work we fund and the support we provide. By addressing both individual and systemic factors, we aim to make work a sustainable and reliable pathway out of poverty.
Find out more about how to apply here.
We currently do not have any open calls for our Programme Awards.
To keep informed of future funding opportunities, you can sign up to our mailing list or follow our social channels.
Find out more about how to apply here.
We currently do not have any open calls for our Programme Awards.
To keep informed of future funding opportunities, you can sign up to our mailing list or follow our social channels.
In our Voices series, we spotlight the stories and insights of the incredible organisations we support - those driving real change in the fight against poverty and trauma in Scotland. The latest group is Works+, an employability project based in Galashiels.
