01 May New back to work scheme launches in West London, as West London Alliance joins forces with employment charity Shaw Trust
Image: New National Back to Work Scheme Launches in West London
West London, 1st May 2025 – The first of the government funded, devolved Connect to Work services will officially launch in West London on 1 May 2025.
Connect to Work is a free, voluntary service which links work and health to help people with health problems find or stay in work.
A recent survey suggests 200,000 people claiming health and disability benefits are ready for work now if the right job or support were available. The same survey also found that people see work as a key part of their identity and wellbeing.
In 2024, around 56,000 people in West London were claiming Universal Credit with no requirement to look for work. Over the next five years 10,800 of those local residents will be supported towards finding meaningful employment by the Connect to Work initiative, which joins other support services delivered in the West London area.
The new service will cover Ealing, Barnet, Harrow, Hillingdon, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow, and will:
- help people find and keep good quality jobs
- provide careers advice and essential skills training
- act as a link between mental health teams and employers to ensure people get the right support at work
Connect to Work draws on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, which brings employment professionals and health professionals (including GPs) together to support people into work.
Shaw Trust is the largest provider of IPS services in the UK outside the NHS. Their recent IPS report looked at the results of the 19,000+ people they have supported with these services, and found that:
- Work is good for health and wellbeing – 73% of those who found work showed an improvement in their wellbeing
- IPS helps people gain and stay in work – 68% of people stayed in work for at least 26 weeks.
- Early help is most effective – 62% of people who are referred whilst still employed are able to stay in work.
- IPS saves taxpayer money – with a return on investment of £2.43 of benefits for every £1 spent on an individual receiving IPS support.
David Francis, Director of West London Alliance said: “West London Alliance boroughs are committed to fostering a more inclusive West London. The Connect to Work programme is a cornerstone of this commitment, providing essential support to those facing the toughest barriers to employment.
“Since 2016, we have successfully run devolved Employment Support Programmes. We are proud to be the first region to go ‘live’ with Connect to Work, building on our excellent track record of delivery. This programme offers vital, tailored support to those facing challenges in the labour market, empowering them to secure sustainable employment and build better lives.”
David Harper, Acting Managing Director for Community Health and Wellbeing at Shaw Trust said: “We’re thrilled to continue our work with West London Alliance to support more people back into employment, and we’ve witnessed first-hand how much this kind of support has helped people. Many of the people we support come to us in a state of crisis – whether with their health, mental health, finances, or relationships. We’ve seen the impact good work can have in all of these situations, which we’ve shared in our recently published IPS report.
“This has only been possible with the active support of employers – many of whom are leading the way in creating supportive work environments. It’s an unavoidable reality that every organisation will have staff who are unwell – it’s how we deal with this reality that matters. Employers are going to be central to Connect to Work, because they are the ones creating good jobs and also the conditions needed for people to succeed. We’ve seen again and again what a big difference they can make to people’s lives when they work together with us to support people to find or stay in rewarding work.”
Visit worksupportwestlondon.co.uk for more info.