Childcare Support Fund: Helping Parents Access Work, Training and Childcare
21st October 2026
Low-income parents and carers can often face a difficult choice between looking for work, increasing their hours, attending training, or managing childcare costs. The Childcare Support Fund is designed to help remove that barrier.
Funded by the Scottish Government and administered by GCVS, the Childcare Support Fund can cover the cost of registered childcare for up to 12 weeks, where childcare support will help a parent or carer to:
- Start a new job
- Increase their working hours
- Change employment
- Stay in work during a difficult period
- Access training, education or employability activity
- Attend interviews and job-search activities
The fund can support childcare for children aged from 9 months up to the end of primary school and may complement existing funded childcare entitlement, including 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare.
Who is the Childcare Support Fund for?
The fund aims to support families who are at greatest risk of poverty where childcare costs are preventing them from entering, remaining in, or progressing towards employment.
Funding is paid directly to a registered childcare provider. It can be used for a range of childcare costs, including early learning and childcare and out-of-school care.
Important information for referrers
Before making a referral, it is important to consider whether the family may be eligible for other childcare support, including:
- Universal Credit childcare costs support
- The DWP Flexible Support Fund for people about to start work
The Childcare Support Fund should generally be used where other forms of support are not available, appropriate, or sufficient for the family’s circumstances.
Make a Referral
If you work with families and believe someone may benefit from the Childcare Support Fund, please review the fund guidance carefully before submitting a referral.
After reviewing the full eligibility information and Childcare Support Fund Guidance, complete the form to make a referral.
For any enquiries, please contact us by email at childcaresupportfund@gcvs.org.uk