Lone Parents

There are a range of services available to help Lone Parents on their way towards and into work through the Discover Opportunities Centre. These services are there to help at all stages - from not knowing where to start right up to job entry. These services are:

Employability Support Workers

• Based at Discover Opportunities Centre and a good first point of contact if you are unsure who else to talk to. They will help you directly, or refer you to another more appropriate agency. They can be contacted on 01382 434106 or 434519.

Link Workers

• These workers use a mixture of one to one and group work to help you move towards and into work. Each one has experience of dealing with particular groups, including one with a focus on lone parents. They can be contacted on 01382 434106 or 434519.

Money Advice Workers

• Based at Welfare Rights, these workers provide a range of services including;
• Benefit checks
• better off calculations
• debt advice
• budgeting advice
• income maximisation advice
• advocacy
• financial education sessions
• Welfare Rights also have a general Advice Line for anyone needing help: 01382 431167 or the Dundee Advice website also has lots of information about money advice.

Childcare Support

• We have a fund that may be able to help you with:
• Deposits for nurseries or registered childminders if you are starting work
• Initial advance payments for nurseries or registered childminders if you are starting work
• Support while undertaking a short course that will help you find work
• For more information, call our Employability Support Workers on 01382 434106 or 434519

Volunteer Support Worker

• Want to volunteer, but not sure where to start?
• This worker can help match you with a volunteering opportunity
• For more information click the link below:

ICT tutors

• Can help you gain the skills needed in a modern workplace
• They are happy to work with total beginners
• Will help you progress towards a recognised European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) qualification
• For more information call 01382 434106 or 434519.

Dundee College taster courses

• Throughout the year a range of short Taster courses will focus on different career options
• Generally these will be a morning or afternoon session a week, for 6 weeks
• You can access these via a Link Worker or an Employability Support Worker on 01382 434106 or 434519.

Other Support

• One Parent Families Scotland
• Provide a range of information and advice on their website www.opfs.org.uk
• Run the '101 Project' based in Whitfield. Workers there are able to provide additional support to lone parents