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By Laura Roberts, Head of Delivery for Connect to Work Lancashire
Since launching Connect to Work across Lancashire, we have had a singular priority, to ensure that our local relationships and approach mean we continue to embed ourselves in the communities we are there to support. By working alongside local organisations, attending community events and building relationships, our connected approach supports people into employment, with a secondary benefit of strengthening collaboration across the region.
Connect to Work, like Ingeus, is rooted in community engagement. We have been out across Lancashire attending job fairs, wellbeing events, neighbourhood meetings, local job clubs and digital inclusion sessions. You say it’s for the community and we’re there.
The community events have helped us reach people in familiar spaces and we’ve used them as opportunities to raise awareness of Connect to Work and meet people who could benefit from the tailored support the programme offers. Add into this the 15 colocation and shared spaces, and you can’t turn around in Lancashire without bumping into a member of our team!
Collaboration is key to Connect to Work. We’re working with a wide range of partners including foodbanks, housing associations, employment and training providers, debt support services, community centres and local colleges. These partners help us deliver a well-rounded programme that supports participants move closer to work.
We’re also developing strong links with NHS Primary Care Networks and social prescribing teams, helping to connect employment support with wider health and wellbeing services.
Some of our partnership highlights include working alongside Pendle Council to deliver digital inclusion support, building opportunities with Newground Together and strengthening our network through collaboration with People of Pendle, Blackburn Alliance and Hyndburn CAN.
In Ormskirk, the team has been working with the Hope Street cafe, which is a thriving community cafe and support hub in the centre of town. It’s a great area that offers a welcoming space for people with mental health challenges.
We have also been attending wellbeing events hosted by Accrington Jobcentre Plus, Active Lancashire in Bacup and the Pendle West Community Outreach Team, as well as representing Connect to Work at job fairs delivered by Pendle Council, Jobcentre Plus and Blackburn with Darwen Council. As I said, you can’t turn around in Lancashire without bumping into us!
These are just some of the examples of how we’re embedding Connect to Work into local communities.
And it’s working. We’re already seeing positive outcomes and job starts, and I know it will lead to many more.
Through these collaborative efforts of a wide range of local organisations, we are helping more people across Lancashire take positive steps towards employment and a brighter future.
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