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RISE Parent Support and Wilderness Programme

West College Scotland

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

16 Oct 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West College Scotland is considering an integrated parent-support and wilderness programme under the Scottish Funding Council’s RISE initiative. The service would support around 100 eligible parents and carers facing barriers to learning and employment, combining individual assessment, mentoring and follow-up with community-based personal development and structured wilderness residential experiences. It is intended to build confidence, resilience and transferable skills, and help participants progress into education, training, volunteering or work. Delivery would cover Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, using community venues, referral networks and outreach; college campuses in Paisley, Greenock and Clydebank may also be used for agreed activities. The service category is community-based support and personal development services.

This is at the planning and market-testing stage: West College Scotland is gathering evidence of supplier capability, not inviting tenders or awarding a contract. The college expects to determine and communicate the next procurement steps after this exercise. Suppliers were asked to return an expression of interest and evidence by close of business on 29 October 2026; the next notice was anticipated on 9 November 2026. The anticipated contract start was the week commencing 2 November 2026, subject to procurement and approvals, with all delivery, outcome reporting and financial claims completed by 31 July 2027. The indicative maximum contract value is £140,000 including VAT, which must cover total delivery costs. There is one planned lot. Participants must be Scotland residents with a child under 18 living at home and individual income below £33,000; eligibility is self-declared.

The work is suited to providers able to deliver an end-to-end, community-based support programme across all four local authority areas, either directly or through an accountable partnership. The buyer is seeking established referral networks, experienced staff and the operational capacity to mobilise immediately, engage around 25 participants in the first 30 days and support approximately 100 overall. Providers should be able to deliver at least 14 structured wilderness residential experiences and make residential participation available to every participant, alongside tailored alternatives and follow-up support. Relevant experience with low-income parents and people facing complex barriers is important, including trauma-informed practice and support relating to mental health, housing instability, justice involvement or substance use. The required capability also includes outdoor competence, safeguarding, risk and emergency management, insurance, any necessary licences, accessible delivery, secure case management, GDPR compliance and outcome reporting aligned with Scottish Funding Council requirements. The buyer seeks a credible, fully costed delivery model within its stated ceiling.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

RISE Parent Support and Wilderness Programme

Notice 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 Information

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.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000845673
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566781
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

79998000 - Coaching services

80570000 - Personal development training services

85322000 - Community action programme

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£116,667 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Nov 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West College Scotland
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PAISLEY
Postcode
PA3 4DR
Postcode Area
Paisley
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM33 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Delivery Location
TLM83 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Local Authority
Renfrewshire
Electoral Ward
Renfrew South and Gallowhill
Westminster Constituency
Paisley and Renfrewshire North

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=OCT566781&idx=1
    16th October 2026 - Capability Questionnaire
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566781
    RISE Parent Support and Wilderness Programme - 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.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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