An additional £7 million is to be invested in the Parental Employability Support Fund this year.
This additional funding will provide intensive employability support for parents both in and out of work, helping to tackle in-work poverty, and enhance links between local employability services and the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in all 32 Local Authorities
The measures outlined in the 2020-21 draft budget will mean more than £16 million will be invested by 2022 to support low income parents address barriers to employment and to upskill while in work.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “In Scotland we have set in statute our ambition to eradicate child poverty and we are taking firm action to deliver progress.
“Last week’s budget included £7 million of additional investment for the new Parental Employability Support Fund which will be delivered in partnership with local authorities across Scotland.
“This investment will deliver new and enhanced services, providing parents with tailored holistic employability support and linking with the opportunities that our massive expansion of Early Learning and Childcare bring.
“Increasing household incomes from work and earnings is one of the keys ways to effectively tackling poverty – our investment will help ensure parents can access the jobs available and progress within employment.”