Free to Learn

Free learning and support to help parents and carers improve their options.

If you're a parent or carer earning under £33,000 (or receiving benefits), you can learn something new at UHI North, West and Hebrides, completely free. We could also help with the things that often get in the way, like childcare and travel costs.

Backed by the Scottish Government, ‘Free to Learn’ is about gaining new skills to give yourself more options: around the work you do, the time you have, and the direction you take. It puts you in control, which can only benefit your future and your family.

Whether you're currently in work or not, you can decide what you learn and how much. It could be a day or two to try something out, or part-time learning that builds over time. Big or small, we'll help you choose.

How it works around your life:

It's free. Learning costs you nothing, and we could support you with childcare and travel too.
It fits around you. There are evening and part-time options. Some learning happens in the community or from home, not just on campus.
It won't affect any benefits. Free part-time learning won't impact your allowances. We can also do a personal benefits check with you, so you know where you stand.
You'll be looked after. Lots of our learners are adults coming back after time away, so you won't be in a classroom full of teenagers. Support is also available for dyslexia, mental health, reading, writing, numbers and English.
You can start small. Try a taster first. There's no pressure, and no need to know where it leads.

Courses available

Rise into Care

Are you a parent or carer who wants to move into a rewarding career in care by building new skills with training that fits around your family life? Or are you a parent or carer already working in care and wish to enhance your skills for career progression? If so, then this fully funded course is for you. This course will equip you with opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge, gain industry-recognised qualifications and enhance your career development.

Campus location: Fort William

Attendance: Classes will take place face-to-face from 9.45 am to 11.45 am, two days per week at the Fort William campus. The days are still to be confirmed.

You will also need to attend two full days for practical skills assessments during the nine-week course and complete some self-study.

To support you throughout the course, we will cover your travel costs between home and college and provide breakfast before each class. Tea, coffee and biscuits will also be available during timetabled classes. We can also help with additional childcare costs where needed.

Students who are eligible for RISE funding will be equipped with a Chromebook and internet dongle with data to access coursework outside college class time.

On successful completion of your course, you will gain:

Qualifications Scotland Career in Social Care: An Introduction award, SCQF Level 5
REHIS Elementary Food Hygiene certificate
One-day Emergency First Aid certificate
Moving and Assisting (People Handling) certificate (Scottish Manual Handling Passport Scheme)
Employability skills

Eligibility criteria:

You must live in Scotland full-time
Be a parent or carer responsible for at least one child under 18 living at home
Have an individual income of less than £33,000 per year
For Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) funding, you can be employed or unemployed
For Training Access Fund (TAF) funding, you must be employed
If you have refugee status or are an asylum seeker, you can access funding if you meet the above criteria

Interested in signing up or would like more information?

Two funds are available through the Free to Learn programme: RISE (Raising Income through Skills and Education) and TAF (Training Access Fund). Both are part of Scottish Government-funded programmes delivered as part of the third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.