Cabinet Secretary highlights Fife College’s role in tackling poverty and visits Skills Street development

Fife College welcomed Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, to its Dunfermline City Campus last week (8 October) as part of Challenge Poverty Week, highlighting the vital role colleges play in tackling poverty through education and employment.

The visit comes as the Scottish Government announced a £10 million investment in its Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) programme, which will support up to 2,400 parents across Scotland to access training, develop new skills and enter or progress in employment.

Joined by Gavin Donoghue, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, the Cabinet Secretary met with parents benefiting from the initiative and discussed how colleges are helping to tackle poverty by creating accessible routes into learning and work.

She also visited the site of the College's planned Skills Street development at the Dunfermline City Campus, where she heard about plans for the new facility and its role in creating future skills and employment opportunities across Fife.

Colleges RISE is one part of a £22 million package to help parents upskill to enter or progress in work. This includes £10m for the new Flexible Workforce Development Fund, £10m for the Colleges RISE Programme, and £2m for the new Training Access Fund – supporting parents to boost their earnings.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, meets Jade Burnett, Fife College Lecturer and Community Development Coordinator, and Becka McGeevor, Fife College Students’ Association President: Education and Representation, to hear about initiatives supporting students, including Dressed for Success and winter coat provision.

Through RISE funding, Fife College is working with Dundee & Angus College, UHI Perth and KTG Impact Associates to deliver the Foundation Enterprise Skills Programme across the Tay Cities region. Expected to support around 120 parents and carers in its first year, the programme will build confidence and skills, open up learning and employment opportunities, and provide practical support including childcare, food and ongoing guidance.

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, said:

"This is a prime example of how we are helping parents to boost their incomes through work, as well as through vital cost-of-living saving measures.

"We know that paid employment offers a sustainable route out of poverty for many families and I am pleased that colleges across Scotland are utilising our funding to work with parents to enhance their career options.

"This is part of wider activity, which also includes capping bus fares, investing to deliver a national breakfast club offer, and the game-changing Scottish Child Payment."

Jim Metcalfe, Principal of Fife College, said:

“It was a great honour to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to Fife College and share how we are helping people across the region access the skills and opportunities they need to find fulfilling employment.

“Creating flexible learning opportunities that help people overcome barriers to education and work is central to our mission and ambition, and we are fortunate to work with some fantastic partners to make this possible.

“Skills Street will be a vital part of this work, and it was wonderful to share our plans and progress with the Cabinet Secretary and highlight the difference we hope to make for individuals, families and communities across Fife.”

Gavin Donoghue, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said:

"Colleges play a critical role in tackling poverty at source and creating opportunity in every part of Scotland. On a daily basis, our colleges help learners gain the confidence and skills they need to overcome educational barriers and get into well-paid jobs that increase their incomes and improve their lives.

"Colleges are a key part of Scotland's anti-poverty infrastructure, helping to break down barriers, widen access and support Scotland's ambition of becoming a fairer and more inclusive society.

"Challenge Poverty Week provides an important opportunity to recognise the difference colleges make and to renew our collective commitment to addressing poverty and inequality."

As part of the visit, the Cabinet Secretary also toured the site of the College's planned Skills Street development, where she heard about proposals to create a new centre of excellence for green and digital skills.

Located at the new Dunfermline City Campus, the development is planned to include innovative learning environments and specialist facilities focused on areas including sustainable construction, energy transition and emerging technologies.