NTSF Delivery Partners

Here you can find more information on the delivery partners for the National Third Sector Fund:

Apex Scotland

Apex Scotland was established in 1987 with the aim of creating equality of access to employment and employability training for people with barriers to employment.  Their work contributes to the safer society agenda. They specialise in providing services to people with a criminal record. This is a vital role as research shows that those in employment are 4 times less likely to re-offend.

The target service user group for the NTSF Steps programme are people with criminal convictions.  This includes those with sexual convictions and those that pose the greatest threat to public safety.   These are people who are at risk of being economically inactive long term.  The barriers that individuals on this programme have presented with are wider than this and are multiple. Service users on average present with at least six recognised barriers to employment.

Find out more about Apex Scotland's work

ENABLE Scotland

ENABLE Scotland was established in 1954 by 5 sets of parents of children who have learning disabilities. It is Scotland’s leading charity for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers. ENABLE employs over 2,000 people and is one of the largest delivery organisations for the Employability Fund programme.

The ENABLE NTSF First Steps programme is a one-to-one intervention service that helps those furthest from the labour market.  These are people who have not been engaging in any services but would like to progress towards employment. Participants are young people aged between 16 and 29, with multiple barriers to employment including, disabilities, mental health issues and no or limited work experience.

Find out more about ENABLE's work

Right Track Scotland

Right Track Scotland was established in 1983 to support young people, primarily aged 15 to 19 years with additional support needs.  They also offer small projects aimed at supporting the slightly older unemployed. They assist these youngsters to access support to enable them to enter Employment.  Right Track projects are based in areas of above average disadvantage.

Right Track’s provision is driven by the belief that regardless of their start in life all young people deserve the chance and support to achieve their full potential.  Right Track recognises the real challenges and barriers that many youngsters face.   They focus on managing these barriers via the development of coping and resilience skills. They operate a “small-step” approach, supporting young people to recognise small achievements and celebrate learning. Right Track believe that soft skills provide the platform for young people to achieve sustainable hard outcomes.

Find out more about Right Track's work

ProjectScotland

ProjectScotland was established in 2004 and its charitable aims were to help young people aged 16 to 30 get on in life through volunteering. They partner with hundreds of Scottish charities to create quality volunteering placements. Project Scotland merged with Volunteering Matters in 2021. Volunteering Matters is a UK charity with similar aims to Project Scotland.

ProjectScotland’s supported volunteering service runs across the earlier stages of the pipeline. It focuses on engagement and barrier removal alongside volunteering. Provision is at stages 1 and 2, with a stage 3 service in some but not all local authorities. The service combines barrier removal with a particular focus on, but not exclusive to, mental health. Owing to the nature of their ESF match funding, Project Scotland focuses support on unemployed 16–30-year-olds. These young people have multiple barriers to engagement. Places are also made available for those above the age of 30 where there is a demand for this service. Participants average 3 barriers each.   These include those who are; long term unemployed, considered low or no skills, have no paid work experience, come from a minority background, consider themselves to be disabled or have a mental health condition.

Find out more about ProjectScotland's work