The No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition does not affect your employment rights; your rights as a worker are the same as those of a UK national. The Equality Act 2010 protects employees against discrimination regardless of their immigration status. If you believe that you are being discriminated against the basis of a protected characteristic then you should contact the Grampian Regional Equality Council (GREC).
Although your rights when in employment are guaranteed, you will not be eligible for the same support as many of your peers. The NRPF condition blocks access to most mainstream benefits, such as Universal Credit and Child Benefit. This leaves individuals and families at a higher risk of in-work poverty.
Certain visas limit or completely bar individuals from working in the UK. If you are unsure whether you the right to work it is advised you contact an immigration solicitor.
To learn more about the relationship between NRPF, finances and employment please view our ‘NRPF and Employment‘ page.
See below for a variety of resources that may help you with your journey to financial and employment support.
This service offers free, impartial, and confidential support for Aberdeen City residents, helping you check your benefit entitlements, complete forms, challenge decisions, and address debt by exploring tailored solutions with an experienced adviser. Outreach services are also offered at various locations
You can reach them in the following ways:
ABZ Works’s employability support is a free service for Aberdeen residents aged 16-67 who need help moving into employment, education or training. The support provided through the No One Left Behind strategy is not a public fund, but it does have clear eligibility criteria that not everyone will satisfy.
Participants are matched with a key worker who helps identify barriers and creates a personalised action plan. Support includes confidence building, CV and interview preparation, digital skills, work experience, access to training, help with travel and clothing costs for interviews, and in-work support once a job is secured.
You can reach them in the following ways:
This service offers two key strands of free, practical financial support delivered in association with the national award-winning charity, Christians Against Poverty (CAP). Debt Help provides caring, practical support to individuals struggling with unmanageable debt and bills, including in-home appointments and referrals to additional resources, such as food banks.
The CAP Money Course is an upcoming free budgeting program that equips people with essential money-management skills and a simple, cash-based budgeting system to help them gain control of their finances.
You can reach them in the following ways
This hub offers Aberdeen adults (18+) direct support with digital skills, financial awareness, and wellbeing. Services include building basic IT confidence and assisting with navigating banking, job searches, and essential services. Help with budgeting and online safety is provided.
Access is via one-to-one appointments, digital drop-ins, or small group sessions; no referral is required. Individuals can also apply using the referral form.
You can reach them in the following ways:
GREC maintains an interactive online Aberdeen ESOL Map that visually shows all locations in the city that provide English support services, including ESOL test centres, drop-in conversation sessions, and formal English classes.
The map is developed in partnership with organisations such as Aberdeen City Council’s Adult Learning Team and local community centres, with information provided directly by service providers and updated to ensure accuracy.
GREC provides free weekly Language Café sessions on Thursdays from 11:00–15:00, usually at the Aberdeen Arts Centre to help people practice English, interact with diverse cultures, and build confidence in a relaxed environment. No booking is required to attend. We’ve attached an example of a recent poster promoting the sessions.
You can reach them and access resources in the following ways:
The Independent Food Aid Network has several ‘Worrying About Money?’ resources: guides for people facing money worries and support workers. The leaflets and their interactive, translated, poster, easy read, BSL, and audio versions identify which local agencies are best placed to help people maximise income and access any existing financial entitlements.
There are separate resources for Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
You can reach them in the following ways:
National Debtline is a free, confidential, and independent debt advice charity authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It offers expert, tailored support via phone and webchat, along with a self-guided online tool, My Money Steps, available 24/7, to help individuals take control of their debts in a judgment-free environment.
You can reach them in the following ways:
Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is a Scottish Government initiative, led by Skills Development Scotland, that provides free, impartial advice and support to both businesses and employees facing redundancy.
It is a partnership of 24 organisations offering localised support to help individuals with the practical and emotional sides of redundancy, recognise their skills, and prepare for their next move.
You can reach them in the following ways:
Pathways provides one-to-one, confidential employability support through a team of Keyworkers covering Aberdeen City. They help individuals identify job goals, develop a plan, create or update a CV, complete application forms, prepare for interviews, access funds to remove work barriers (like training or equipment), and search for job opportunities.
Support is typically delivered in a community centre or project near the client’s home.
You can reach them in the following ways:
CFINE’s SAFE (Support, Advice, Finance and Education) Team provides a person-centred service in Aberdeen to help improve household finances.
They offer benefits and budgeting advice, assist with applications for crisis loans and community care grants and provide form-filling support. Individuals and organisations can refer
You can reach them in the following ways:
The SMART money advice project offers free, impartial, and confidential financial advice to tenants of Grampian, Castlehill, and Langstane Housing Associations who are facing financial difficulties. This ranges from managing your money and debt counselling to checking Welfare Benefit entitlement, applying for benefits, and providing budgeting advice.
You can reach them in the following ways:
Smart Works provides a free, two-part service to help unemployed women and those on zero-hours contracts succeed in job interviews, operating on a referral basis from partner organisations such as mental health charities, women’s refuges, homeless shelters, and youth organisations. They have locations in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The service is open to all women, including transgender women and non-binary people, whose gender expression aligns with the service.
You can reach them in the following ways: