Published Date: May 5th, 2026
Fife Council’s Grounds Maintenance Service is seeing clear benefits from working closely with the Council’s Life Chances programme, with more people gaining skills, confidence and paid employment while helping to support service delivery across the region’s green spaces.
Fife Council’s Life Chances programme helps people who need support to get into work - part of a wider plan called Community Wealth Building, which aims to improve local economies by tackling economic challenges.
This is done by working together with public services, businesses, charities, and community groups.
With that in mind, the Council’s Employability Service runs Life Chances placements to help people build skills and move towards long-term jobs.
Already this year this approach has already helped 12 Life Chances-funded participants move successfully into seasonal roles within Grounds Maintenance - demonstrating how joint working across services can deliver positive outcomes for individuals and the wider community.
Scott Clelland, Service Manager, Grounds Maintenance Service, said: “Our experience of the Life Chances programme has been one of facilitating real positive change for those individuals who are keen to develop their skills and knowledge working across the Council's green spaces.
“There is no doubt that the support and mentoring provided helps to prepare people for life in a dynamic and diverse workplace, creating the opportunity for those participating to move into paid employment with confidence and enthusiasm.
“We see real benefits to the individuals and also to the wider Fife community and wherever possible we will continue to support the Life Chances programme to deliver positive outcomes for the people of Fife.”
The Life Chances programme supports people who face barriers to employment by helping them develop practical experience, workplace skills and confidence, while also supporting Council services with workforce capacity and continuity.
A Life Chances placement is a paid placement, usually in an entry level role.
During the placement, employability support will be provided either from Fife Council or a partner provider such as Fife Gingerbread or Rural Skills Scotland and a “buddy” will be assigned for further support.
On successful completion of the placement, participants will normally be provided with a job offer and they will continue to be fully supported in their new role, with employability support offered for 12 months, including the initial 13-week Life Chances placement.
Kirsty Haydock, Service Manager for Employability and Employer Engagement, added: “The success of this partnership with Grounds Maintenance shows what can be achieved when services work together around a shared goal.
“Life Chances funding allows people to build real, meaningful experience in a supportive environment, while services benefit from motivated individuals who are keen to contribute and progress.
“Seeing so many participants transition into paid roles is exactly the kind of outcome the programme aims to achieve.”
The collaboration highlights how Life Chances funding can support both employability outcomes and frontline service delivery, helping people move closer to long-term employment while strengthening Council services.
Life Chances placement opportunities are advertised through Opportunities Fife and via Find a Job websites.
Referrals can be made by Fife Council Employability Services and third sector employability partners.
Our photo shows (left to right) Hamish Tait, Grounds Maintenance Operative; Fraser Nicol, Area Officer, Grounds Maintenance Kirkcaldy; David Baldie, Grounds Maintenance Operative; Sean Murray, Grounds Maintenance Operative; and Martin Williams, Employability Officer.
