RISE Parent Support and Wilderness Programme

Tender description

West College Scotland is seeking a suitably experienced provider to deliver an integrated parent support and wilderness programme as part of the Scottish Funding Council's Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) initiative. The programme will support approximately 100 eligible parents and carers across Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, helping them overcome barriers to learning and employment through a combination of one-to-one support, personal development, community-based activities and structured wilderness residential experiences. The programme aims to build confidence, resilience and transferable skills, while supporting progression into education, training, volunteering and employment opportunities. Delivery must commence immediately following contract award, with all activity completed by 31 July 2027. Lot 1: West College Scotland (WCS) wishes to assess market capability to deliver an integrated, community-based parent support and wilderness programme under Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE), funded through the Scottish Funding Council's 2026-27 Tackling Child Poverty initiative. The programme will support approximately 100 eligible parents and carers who face barriers to participation in learning, training and employment. Wilderness residential activity will form a central component of a wider programme of relationship-building, personal development, confidence building, one-to-one support and progression planning. Providers must demonstrate how their approach will contribute to improved confidence, transferable skills, sustained engagement and progression towards improved economic circumstances. Estimated maximum contract value: 140,000 GBP inclusive of VAT. Total delivery costs, including any VAT payable, must not exceed this value. Contract commencement: Anticipated w.c. 2nd November 2026, subject to completion of procurement and approvals. Contract end date: All delivery, outcome reporting and financial claims must be completed by 31 July 2027. The successful provider must mobilise immediately following contract award. Referral activity, participant recruitment and engagement are expected to commence from day one of the contract. Providers should demonstrate capacity to actively engage approximately 25 eligible participants within the first 30 calendar days. The programme must support eligible participants across Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire. Delivery should utilise local community venues, referral networks and outreach arrangements. WCS campuses in Paisley, Greenock and Clydebank may be available for agreed activities where appropriate. Participant eligibility will align with published SFC RISE 2026-27 guidance. Participants must be parents or carers living in Scotland full-time, have responsibility for at least one child under 18 living at home, and have an individual income below 33,000 GBP. Eligibility is self-declared. Outreach should prioritise families most at risk of child poverty while remaining accessible to all eligible participants. The provider, either independently or through an accountable partnership arrangement, must deliver an end-to-end service including: - Recruitment, referral, eligibility engagement and sustained support for approximately 100 eligible parents and carers. - Person-centred assessment, mentoring and one-to-one support before and after participation. - Support to address barriers including transport, childcare responsibilities, isolation and confidence. - A minimum of 14 structured wilderness residential experiences designed to develop confidence, resilience, communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. - An opportunity for all participants to undertake a residential wilderness experience as part of their development journey. - Community-based personal development, confidence-building and tailored support for participants unable to attend residential activities. - Trauma-informed engagement with individuals experiencing complex barriers, including poor mental health, housing instability, justice involvement or substance-related issues. - Progression planning and onward referral into learning, training, employability, volunteering or employment opportunities. - Inclusive and accessible delivery arrangements, including reasonable adjustments. - Appropriate safeguarding, risk management, supervision, emergency procedures, staff competence, insurance and any required statutory licences. - Secure case management, attendance and engagement records, financial monitoring, GDPR compliance and regular outcome reporting in a format agreed with WCS. Given the funding timescales, immediate mobilisation and the ability to deliver participant outcomes within the contract period are essential requirements.