The UK government has announced a major step forward in its mission to help sick and disabled people move into meaningful work and escape poverty. Through a £167.2 million expansion of the Connect to Work programme, more than 40,000 additional people will receive tailored employment support, marking a significant effort to break long-term barriers that prevent many from joining the workforce. This initiative, launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and updated in October 2025, reflects a wider £1 billion investment plan designed to help 300,000 people across England and Wales secure sustainable jobs by the end of the decade.
At its heart, the Connect to Work programme is based on a simple but powerful principle — that health and work are deeply connected. Many people with physical or mental health conditions face not only medical challenges but also a loss of confidence, isolation, and limited access to opportunities. The programme seeks to change that by embedding job advisers directly inside GP surgeries, mental health services, and local community centres, treating employment as an important part of a person’s overall well-being. Instead of separating health recovery from employment, the government is integrating the two, acknowledging that finding suitable work can be just as vital to recovery as medication or therapy.
A New Model of Support
Under the Connect to Work expansion, nine new regions in England will now benefit from this funding, including Cumbria, Oxfordshire, West Sussex and Brighton, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, the South Midlands, and the North East. Each of these areas will receive funding based on local needs, allowing communities to design and deliver support in ways that best suit their populations. For example, areas will have the flexibility to focus on training, digital upskilling, mental health recovery, or family support, depending on what local jobseekers need most.
The approach is intentionally locally driven rather than a “one-size-fits-all” national model. Local councils and combined authorities will decide how to target funds and tailor programmes for their residents. This could include setting up Virtual Reality interview classrooms to help people practice for job interviews, or running confidence-building workshops for those who have been out of work for years. Parents struggling with childcare will also receive assistance to access affordable childcare options, enabling them to return to the workforce.
According to the DWP, this kind of flexibility ensures that people are not just placed in any job, but in the right kind of job — one that fits their health, skills, and personal goals, and that they can sustain in the long term. The programme focuses on intensive, personalised guidance. Each participant works one-on-one with a dedicated adviser who learns about their health condition, life circumstances, and career aspirations. Together, they identify realistic goals and develop an employment plan that aligns with their abilities and interests.
Breaking the Cycle of Exclusion
The scale of the challenge is immense. Currently, around 2.8 million people in the UK are out of work due to long-term health conditions. Many of them want to work but face complex barriers, including discrimination, lack of accessibility, mental health struggles, or outdated skills. Over one in four unemployed people now cite illness or disability as the main reason they cannot work — a figure that has more than doubled since 2012. Moreover, one in three people on Universal Credit has a disability or health condition that limits their ability to find or keep a job.
The government’s Plan for Change aims to tackle this head-on by modernising jobcentres, providing more flexible local support, and creating a Youth Guarantee to ensure that every young person is either working or studying. Connect to Work plays a key role in this strategy by targeting one of the country’s most pressing employment issues: the growing number of people who have been written off because of illness or disability.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden emphasised that excluding people with long-term health issues harms not only individuals but also the entire economy. He stated, “Writing off people with long-term health conditions or disabilities fails them and fails our economy. We are giving people a hand up, not a handout — realising their potential and providing them with the skills to succeed.”
This marks a shift in government tone — from seeing welfare as passive support to seeing it as an active investment in human potential. McFadden highlighted that early results from the areas already running the programme have been encouraging, with many participants gaining confidence, upskilling, and moving closer to employment.
Health and Work: A United Front
Minister of State for Health Stephen Kinnock reinforced the view that health and employment are interlinked. For decades, policies treated them as separate issues — healthcare on one side, job support on the other. Connect to Work is changing that by viewing employment as part of the recovery process. Kinnock explained, “For many people, getting help finding the right work could be as important as the correct physio or medication. This investment is just what the doctor ordered.”
This statement captures the essence of the programme’s philosophy: helping people get back into meaningful work can play a vital role in improving both their physical and mental health. Work provides routine, purpose, social interaction, and financial stability — all of which contribute to well-being and recovery.
One of the most innovative elements of this initiative is the embedding of employment advisers directly in GP surgeries and mental health teams. These advisers work side-by-side with doctors, nurses, and therapists to ensure that patients who are capable and willing to work are not overlooked. Rather than waiting until someone is “fully recovered,” support begins early, empowering patients to see work as part of their rehabilitation.
Real Lives, Real Change
The impact of this personalised, integrated approach is best seen in individual stories like that of Chris, a participant who joined Connect to Work after suffering an accident that affected his confidence and career. Through the programme, Chris received tailored guidance, access to training, and funding for a Site Management Safety Training Scheme course. He also completed multiple computer skills courses that opened new career paths. Chris described the experience as “life-changing,” crediting the programme with restoring his confidence, motivation, and sense of purpose.
Stories like Chris’s demonstrate that the programme is not just about statistics — it’s about transforming lives one person at a time. For many participants, the support they receive goes far beyond job placement. It’s about rebuilding self-belief, regaining independence, and finding a renewed sense of value in society.
Regional Rollout and Funding Breakdown
The Connect to Work expansion will roll out across nine new areas, with funding carefully allocated according to local population size and need:
- North East: £49.7 million to support around 13,800 people
- South Midlands: £32 million to help approximately 8,050 people
- Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay: £22.8 million for around 5,950 people
- West Sussex and Brighton: £15.6 million for about 3,950 participants
- Cumbria: £11.7 million supporting 2,750 people
- Berkshire: £9.5 million for roughly 2,350 participants
- Oxfordshire: £8.3 million to reach 2,000 people
- Buckinghamshire: £7.2 million to help around 1,650 residents
- York and North Yorkshire: £10.4 million supporting 2,500 people
Local authorities, combined councils, and regional mayors will oversee implementation, ensuring that funding addresses specific community challenges. For instance, areas with high rates of industrial unemployment might focus on retraining in modern sectors, while rural regions could focus on flexible or remote work opportunities. The North East’s Mayor Kim McGuinness called it “a New Deal for North East Workers,” pledging to remove long-standing barriers to employment and help local people “secure the jobs that work for them.”
This regional empowerment model represents a major shift from traditional, centralised government programmes. It gives local authorities the autonomy to shape their own employment ecosystem, connecting health services, jobcentres, and training providers in a seamless support network.
Innovation and Community Partnerships
The Connect to Work programme also encourages innovation through community partnerships. Many of the local authorities plan to collaborate with voluntary organisations, charities, and community-based groups that already work with disabled people, carers, and those facing long-term unemployment. These groups are often best placed to reach individuals who might distrust government agencies or who have dropped out of the job market entirely.
Another unique feature is the introduction of Virtual Reality (VR) training, where participants can simulate real job interviews or workplace environments in a safe, supportive setting. This helps reduce anxiety and boosts readiness for real-world situations. In addition, confidence and communication workshops are being run in several areas to help participants develop soft skills essential for professional growth.
The inclusion of childcare support is another crucial component, recognising that many parents — particularly single mothers — face additional hurdles when trying to return to work. By addressing childcare affordability, Connect to Work tackles one of the key barriers that often keeps families trapped in poverty.
A Voluntary and Inclusive Programme
Unlike traditional welfare-to-work schemes, Connect to Work is entirely voluntary. Participants are not forced to join or risk losing benefits. Instead, they can self-refer or be recommended by their GPs, mental health professionals, councils, or community organisations. This approach fosters trust and ensures that people engage because they want to, not because they are compelled to.
The programme also supports individuals already in work who are at risk of losing their jobs due to health conditions or workplace barriers. This preventative angle helps reduce job loss among vulnerable workers and promotes longer-term employment stability.
Importantly, Connect to Work operates independently from the Pathways to Work funding, meaning it provides an additional layer of targeted support rather than replacing existing programmes.
The Bigger Picture: Britain’s Employment Vision
This expansion aligns with the government’s broader economic and social recovery strategy — a £1 billion commitment to get more people into secure jobs, strengthen local economies, and reduce reliance on welfare. By 2030, Connect to Work aims to have supported 300,000 people into employment, making it one of the largest targeted inclusion programmes in modern UK history.
Beyond economics, the initiative is about dignity and equality. It challenges the old notion that people with disabilities or health issues are “unfit to work.” Instead, it promotes a vision where everyone, regardless of condition, has a chance to contribute meaningfully to society. This shift in thinking is crucial for reducing stigma and building a more inclusive labour market.