Support for Individuals

How Fair Start Scotland can help individuals

There are lots of people who want to work but find it hard to find the right job that meets their needs and is flexible enough for their circumstances. Fair Start Scotland treats people with dignity and respect by providing flexible support, taking into account personal circumstances and removing barriers to accessing work.

Fair Start Scotland can support you if you have struggled to find a job which meets your needs, participation is completely voluntary and choosing to take part won't affect your existing benefits.

How it works

Fair Start Scotland will:

• put you first, working together to provide the right support for you;
• give you a dedicated adviser who will listen, guide and help you achieve your goals;
• recognise and help you develop your skills and experience;
• help you find work that suits you
• provide up to 12 months pre work support along with a further period of in work support tailored to suit you.

Your advisor will:

• meet with you weekly
• work with you to identify and make the most of your skills
• find opportunities to help you gain skills and experience
• help build your confidence
• help you create/update a CV and prepare for interviews
• find jobs which meet your needs

After you've found a job

Your adviser will continue keep in touch with you and your employer regularly:

• to identify any support you might need in your new role; and
• to make sure everything is going well and to answer any questions you might have.

This means that there is someone to help should you have any problems or questions up to 12 months after you start working.

Groups eligible from Day 1 of unemployment include:        

• Lone Parents
• Care experienced young people
• Person with a conviction   
• Refugees
• Unemployed with a health condition that is a barrier to work
• Ethnic minorities
• Resident in 15% most deprived SIMD areas
• Anyone who has a health condition and is found to have a limited capability for work (LCW) or a limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) following a Work Capability Assessment
• Anyone who is Disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010

If none of the above categories apply, people are also eligible as they reach 12 months unemployment.

To be able to take part in Fair Start Scotland, individuals must be living in Scotland and be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

Eligible individuals must not be in paid work of any kind at point of referral, including permitted work.