Voluntary Sector Development Fund

Scottish Ministers are making up to £1m available this year to voluntary sector providers of social services to help develop and train key workers.

Visit the VSDF page for more information.

Flexible Training Opportunities

Flexible Training Opportunities gives businesses with under 150 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 towards employee training costs.

Managed by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and supported by the European Social Fund, it aims to help small businesses become more resilient and to boost productivity and success.

Funding is available for up to 10 employees per business and the money is not a loan so there's no need to pay it back.

SDS will refund 50% of the cost of up to 10 training courses with a maximum value of £500 per course. And it's flexible, so 10 employees can do one course each or one employee can do 10 courses, with any combination in between.

Businesses must register before 31st March and complete the training by 30th June 2011.

Visit the SDS website for more information.

Part-time fee grant

Up to £500 for part-time qualifications at Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) levels 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

For more information and to download an application form on the part time funding grant visit the SAAS website

ILA Scotland

ILA200 is a Scottish Government scheme to help pay for for courses such as Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) and IT skills.

Employees and employers can find out more about ILA funding by visiting the ILA Scotland website or calling 0808 100 1090 to discuss directly with an ILA Scotland adviser.

Funding and Support for Training guide 2009

The SSSC has produced this guide to provide information on sources of funding and support activities currently available for organisations delivering social services in Scotland.

The content draws on earlier funding guides and reports published by the SSSC in 2003/4 and 2004/5. This information will be useful for employers, employees, stakeholder organisations and those commissioning services.

Download in PDF format

Download the Funding for training 2011 Update

eLearning resources

There are tools on our Workforce Solutions Portal to help individuals plan and progress their own learning and tools to support employers develop the workforce they need now, or may need in the future.

Visit the Workforce Solutions to find out more and make use of these.

Other eLearning resources are available from:

• Connect in care
• Glasgow's Learning
• Learn Direct Scotland's Learning Bytes
• The Learning Exchange
• Open Learn
• Social Services Knowledge Scotland
• Social Services Learning Network (North) Portal
• BBC Learning 

Find our more on our eLearning page

Useful resources

• Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland
  provide capacity building grants to help charities run as effectively as possible.
  
  
• Careers Scotland
  has a page on its website to help individuals who require financial support for their studies.
  
  
• Scottish Government
  has a guide on its website about grantsfor voluntary sector organisations.
  
  
• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
  has a list of funding sources on their website.
  
  
• Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit
  can provide information on Government grants to help with training.
  
  
• Work with us
  can provide training to help organisations raise funds and communicate with supporters online.
  
  
• Alliance of Sector Skills Councils and
  Skills Development Scotland
  can both assist with information on Modern Apprenticeships. 
  
  
• Private Care Sector Workforce Initiative
  has information on funding and learning opportunities for organisations in the private sector.
  
  
• The Housing Support Enabling Unit
  offers support to housing support services in the voluntary, private and registered social landlord sectors.
  
  
• Scottish Community Foundation
  provide financial awards for a range of projects. 
  
  
• Interface
  has a list of funding opportunities available to companies wishing to work in partnership with universities and research institutes.
  
  
• LearnDirect Scotland
  has some information for individuals on how to pay for learning.