The career of your dreams is waiting for you.

Connect to Work has been created to help you find the job of your dreams.

This supported employment is for people that have additional barriers or who need a bit of extra help to find and keep a job.

You work with an Employment Specialist who helps you plan what you need to do and help you complete the steps towards getting a job and staying in a job. There are two main parts: finding the right job for you and keeping the job.

Find out if you’re eligible to join Connect to Work

To be suitable for Connect to Work, you:

Are unemployed or at risk of losing paid work.
Are aged 18+
Are living in the South Midlands region – Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, or Northamptonshire
Are motivated to find paid employment
Are not on another DWP work programme such as Restart or Workwell

You must also meet one of the following eligibility criteria

A disabled person is someone who has a physical or mental condition that makes it harder to do everyday things. This could mean a condition that has a big and lasting effect on their daily life, as described in the Equality Act 2010. Another way to understand disability is through the social model. This means that people are disabled by barriers in society – like buildings that are hard to get into, unhelpful attitudes, poor communication, or unfair rules – rather than by their condition alone.

This includes someone who has finished a prison or community sentence, or someone who is currently serving a community sentence.

This means someone who gives unpaid care, full-time or part-time, to a family member or friend who is very ill, disabled, or not able to look after themselves. They do not need to live in the same home. It also includes people who have recently been a carer.

This includes people who are sleeping on the streets or staying in emergency or temporary housing. It also includes people who are at risk of becoming homeless such as staying on friends’ sofa, living in homes that are unsafe or very overcrowded, have been told to leave their home.

Former service or reserve members and partners of Armed Forces personnel.

We understand that people with a history of substance dependency may feel low in confidence to take work or may also have other concerns.

Including care leavers (formerly ‘looked after’) under the age of 25. This includes people who have been in the care system, such as in foster care or kinship care.

(resettled Afghans and people on the Ukrainian scheme) – This includes people on resettlement schemes such as Afghan or Ukrainian people.

This includes people who have been granted the right to stay in the UK temporarily and have the right to work but are unable to access government-funded financial support (benefits).

This includes people who Anyone can experience domestic abuse and this can affect your ability to find or stay in workbeen granted the right to stay in the UK temporarily and have the Young people who are involved, or at risk of being involved, in serious violence often face many difficult problems. These can include living in poverty, having mental health issues, or going through tough experiences as a child.to work but are unable to access government-funded financial support (benefits).

Modern slavery is a hidden crime. It happens when someone is used and taken advantage of for another person’s benefit. Their human rights are not respected. It often includes threats, lies, force, or abuse of power to control the person.

Kick start your career with Connect to Work

Speak to the team

If you have any questions about the Connect to Work programme, we encourage you to speak with our delivery partners. Depending on where you’re based, this will be one of the six Local Authorities that make up the South Midlands. You can find your dedicated Local Authority team below.

Not sure which Local Authority you sit in? The gov.uk website can help. Click here to find your Local Authority.

Make a new start. Join the programme today

To express your interest in Connect to Work or to refer someone you know, you can: Complete an online expression of interest form by clicking here. Or by emailing connect2work@southmidlands.org.uk

Submit an Expression of Interest