Access to Industry - Access Progress (Access To Industry)

We take a holistic approach to helping parents towards work by providing education, training, vocational qualifications and employability advice, along with supporting health and wellbeing and personal development and providing practical knowledge to assist parents in overcoming their challenges.

The service offers one-to-one support with an individually allocated caseworker, so that participants can establish a positive, consistent relationship with one person.  There is also the opportunity for parents to attend group learning and development sessions and meet other parents.

Working with parents to identify the challenges they face moving into employment, caseworkers support participants to develop an individually tailored Action Plan to tackle their barriers and help them progress towards education, training or sustainable employment, while taking into account their work preferences and family responsibilities.  To reinforce their learning, parents also have the opportunity to participate in groups to enhance their life skills and improve their health and wellbeing.  In addition, practical support is available with advice on benefits, housing, grants, childcare and other issues, as and when required.

Access Progress works with unemployed parents or those with parental responsibilities living in Edinburgh. We target parents with at least one additional barrier to work, be that a lone parent, a parent with a disability or parent who has a child/children with a disability, BAME parent, parent under 25 years old or a parent whose youngest child is under 1. However, we are also happy to engage with any parents or carers outwith these groups on a case by case basis if our support will ultimately benefit their child/children.

The service is flexible to fit the requirements of parents and we provide support at a time and place that suits them. Engagement is not time limited - we support participants for as long as they require, even after they progress into work or education.

Due to current Covid 19 restrictions, Access Progress is being delivered remotely (via phone and in online sessions through Zoom, Microsoft Teams or other media, in consultation with individual participants). This will be reviewed in line with government guidelines. In the future, the programme will be delivered at Access to Industry’s Community College at 156 Cowgate in the city centre or at community venues across Edinburgh. Training may continue to be available remotely on demand.