Connect to Work

What is Connect to Work?

Connect to Work is a voluntary employment support programme designed to help people who face barriers to employment - such as health conditions, disabilities, or specific disadvantages - find and stay in meaningful work. Whether someone is unemployed or at risk of leaving their job, the programme will offer up to 12 months of personalised, person centred, one-to-one support.

The 6 local councils in Berkshire (Bracknell Forest, Reading, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough, West Berkshire and Wokingham) have been awarded grant funding by the Government to help about 2,300 people during the 5-year programme. 

The Connect to Work programme will launch in January 2026 and will be delivered in Berkshire by a specialist provider, Palladium. 

Free service

There is no cost to take part - for participants, employers, or referrers.

For jobseekers

Connect to Work:

• Offers tailored, one-to-one help from Employment Specialists and Employment Support Officers who understand your unique challenges and strengths
• Connects employment with health and skills support, working closely to understand needs and challenges and helping employers get the best from participants they employ
• Gains access to training, upskilling opportunities, and local services that boost your confidence and employability
• Is shaped around your community’s needs

For employers

If you are an employer and would like to discuss partnering with Connect to Work to meet your recruitment needs, help a disadvantaged person find work and get great support in doing so.

Connect to Work:

• Offers a wide pool of talented people who are often overlooked and get tailored local support
• Saves time and the cost of recruitment and onboarding of suitable candidates
• Help build a more inclusive and diverse workforce
• Reach candidates who are highly motivated to work for your business
• Improve retention and loyalty of employees

Eligibility

Connect to Work is for:

• People with disabilities or long-term health conditions
• Offenders and ex-offenders
• Carers and ex-carers
• Homeless people
• Armed Forces veterans and current Armed Forces personnel
• People with drug or alcohol dependencies and history of dependency presenting a barrier to employment
• Care experienced young people and care leavers
• Refugees (resettled Afghans and people on the Ukrainian scheme)
• Victims and survivors of domestic abuse
• Young people involved in or at risk of serious violence
• Victims of modern slavery

Suitability

• Aged 18+
• Living in Berkshire
• Motivated to find paid employment
• Not on another DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) work programme
• Not in employment or at risk of losing paid work

Taking part

Health services, local councils and voluntary sector organisations will refer people to the programme but it will also be possible for individuals to express an interest once it has launched.

For more details email connecttowork@wokingham.gov.uk