Clackmannanshire’s Transformation Space helping lift people out of poverty
Foundation Scotland manages and supports the Transformation Space, which has awarded more than £320,000 under its latest funding theme: employment that can lift people out of poverty.
Eight projects have been funded across a range of sectors and approaches, supporting unemployed residents, young people, and those facing significant barriers to work. The awards reflect a strong commitment to building confidence, skills, and sustainable employment pathways across the county.
Clackmannanshire faces a stark employment challenge: with only one job available for every two working-aged residents, low jobs density coupled with rural geography and limited travel networks makes employment even harder to find for those who need to work close to home. Even where families do have someone in work, many remain trapped in poverty due to low pay and restricted opportunities, a burden that falls disproportionately on households with young children.
Rather than focusing solely on individual employability, the Transformation Space sought ambitious ideas and projects that would address the wider barriers that prevent people from accessing and sustaining employment. These include building confidence, improving wellbeing, developing local opportunities, creating supportive relationships and helping people gain skills before they reach crisis point.
The largest single award of £83,700 was to The Gate Charity, whose three-year Gate to Work project will provide training opportunities directly targeted at residents experiencing poverty and the greatest barriers to employment.
Green Skills Training Limited received £54,290 to deliver an innovative green energy programme, upskilling young people with domestic energy assessor qualifications - a forward-looking investment in an emerging and vital sector.
Routes to Work Ltd was awarded £53,780 to run six cohorts of their Stepping Up programme over three years, supporting 72 young people to build the confidence and work-readiness they need to take their next steps. Wasp Community Club received £53,570 to deliver hospitality and sports coaching qualifications to improve access to sustainable employment across Clackmannanshire.
Alloa Hub received £30,000 across three years to fund a part-time Volunteer Assistant, enabling young adults to access one-to-one support and develop the confidence needed to progress into sustained employment.
A creative approach was taken by Resonate Together, awarded £25,000 for their Illuminating Futures programme at Carsebridge, where participants will design, fabricate, and install permanent site-specific chandeliers, using craft and creative industry skills to build confidence and open up practical employment pathways.
Community Wellbeing and Education CIC was awarded £12,820 to deliver accredited make-up and beauty training for 16 young women, recognising that sector-specific skills, built alongside confidence, can open meaningful and lasting employment routes. And Scotia Homecare Solutions Limited received £8,000 to deliver an Introduction to Care in the Community programme, offering unemployed residents hands-on training to explore and prepare for roles in the care sector.
All of the funded projects share a common thread: they meet people where they are - whether facing poverty, low confidence, or a lack of qualifications - and offer structured, practical routes toward meaningful and sustained employment.
“The Transformation Space is about listening to our communities and investing in solutions that tackle the root causes of poverty. We know that for too many people in Clackmannanshire, barriers like low confidence, limited local opportunities and access to training can stand in the way of decent work. These projects will help people build skills, confidence and access to sustainable employment, a vital step in reducing inequality and that the people in our communities have the chance to succeed.”
"We are thrilled to receive this support from the Transformation Fund. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and this funding will help us give back to them by equipping them with the skills and experience they need to thrive in the workplace.”
"We are delighted to have been awarded this funding. The difference it will make to those taking part will be invaluable for their future career prospects - giving each person a passion and purpose to achieve their goals."
"Our Stepping Up programme will bring our experience of delivering in schools, with a focus on developing employability skills, motivation, confidence, and resilience. We are grateful to Clackmannanshire Transformation Space for recognising the integral role of employability in preparing young people for their future beyond school. We look forward to working with partners across Clackmannanshire and sharing the impact of this funding over the next three years."
"We are delighted to receive this grant, particularly as a Clackmannanshire-based organisation committed to supporting local people. This investment will enable us to deliver vital employability training, helping individuals develop new skills and access meaningful opportunities. We are proud to play our part in strengthening our community and contributing to the future of this beautiful place we are fortunate to call home."
“We believe people build confidence, skills and direction when they are trusted to contribute to something meaningful. This funding will enable local people facing barriers to employment to work together on a real creative project, developing practical skills, relationships and future opportunities whilst leaving a lasting legacy within the Carsebridge Cultural Campus. We are grateful to the fund for supporting an approach that places dignity, contribution and community at its heart.”
“We are delighted to have been awarded this funding from the Transformation Space. It will be used to deliver employability work and qualifications alongside the delivery of our Community Cafe which provides free food and advice for members of the community. This service will therefore have a wide-ranging impact on tackling inequalities in Clackmannanshire”
About the Transformation Space
The Transformation Space is a first-of-its-kind model in Scotland, backed by £1 million from the Scottish Government's Invest to Save Fund alongside other council funding. It brings together public and partner resources — breaking down barriers between separate budgets — so that investment is directed at initiatives tackling the root causes of homelessness, poverty, and poor mental health.
At its heart is the Community Voice panel: a diverse group of local residents with lived experience and local knowledge who shape funding calls and make decisions on proposals designed to deliver meaningful, lasting change across Clackmannanshire. The initiative represents a radical shift towards a preventative and relational model of public services.
The Transformation Space is a partnership between local residents, Clackmannanshire Council, The Hunter Foundation, and other funding partners, and has distributed £820,000 in its first year of operation. It is managed and supported by Foundation Scotland.
For more information visit the Clackmannanshire Transformation website.