Connect to Work
Launched in April 2025, Connect to Work is aimed at helping disabled people and those with health conditions and additional support needs into work. It will support 100,000 people across the country, 10,800 of which will be in West London, over a period of 5 years.
Through Connect to Work, those who are currently out of work, struggling to retain sustainable work, or at risk of leaving work will get support through:
Matching people with job opportunities that suit their needs and circumstances,
Providing essential skills training to help people get into and on at work,
Working with employers to recruit and retain disabled workers.
The West London Alliance Partnership covers Ealing, Barnet, Harrow, Hillingdon, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow Local Authorities. The Connect to Work service will be delivered by Shaw Trust.
You can read the press release here.
To find out more please visit: https://shawtrust.org.uk/connect-to-work/
To speak with one of the Connect to Work team or refer to this programme, call: 0808 196 2386 or email: worksupportwestlondon@shaw-trust.org.uk
WorkWell
Launched in October 2024, WorkWell is a programme designed to join up employment and health support. It is a voluntary programme that will focus on early interventions, offering participants an expert assessment of their health and work related barriers. WorkWell will also provide advice and support to employers, triage, signposting and referrals to clinical and non-clinical support.
Through WorkWell, around 59,000 disabled people and people with health conditions across England will have the opportunity to access:
An early-intervention work and health assessment service, with low-intensity holistic support for their health-related barriers to employment (such as employer liaison and work and health coaching)
A single gateway into the services that are available locally to tackle their specific needs, e.g. healthcare professionals, community sector services, health promotion programmes, more intensive employment support, and much more.
The programme will offer low-intensity health and work interventions for people in work who are struggling due to a health condition or disability, those at risk of falling out of work, or those recently (6 months or less) unemployed and facing a barrier to return to work due to a health condition or disability. In West London, the programme has £3.8 million and 4000 places to deliver services in: Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Westminster and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
To find out more please visit: WorkWell – Shaw Trust Main
To speak with one of the WorkWell team, please email: workwellwest@shaw-trust.org.uk or call 0808 196 2386
MSK Trailblazer
MSK Trailblazer is an intensive six-month employment support programme delivered by Shaw Trust on behalf of West London Alliance, and is designed to empower individuals living with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions across West London.
It is 1 of 8 Government- backed trailblazers under the “Get Britain Working White Paper” with £9.1m invested to support 1,200 economically inactive people living with MSK conditions to gain employment.
This innovative initiative brings together health and employment services to deliver truly holistic support, helping participants move closer to the job market or into sustainable employment that accommodates their health needs.
Each participant benefits from tailored guidance provided by a dedicated Health and Employment Specialist, alongside expert input from a physiotherapist. Together, they work to ensure that employment goals align with physical wellbeing—maximising outcomes and promoting long-term success
The West London Alliance in partnership with NWL ICS covers Ealing, Barnet, Harrow, Hillingdon, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow, RBKC, and Westminster Local Authorities. The service will be delivered by Shaw Trust.
To find out or request support, please visit: MSK Trailblazer – Employment support in West London Shaw Trust
Individual Support Placement for people affected by drug and alcohol issues
IPS into Work
This service provides high quality intensive employment support for people who want to get back into work as soon as possible. I has been thoroughly evaluated and it works well for people with substance misuse issues – IPS into Work Impact Report.
It is delivered by VIA, a leading charity providing drug and alcohol treatment, and recovery services. They work very closely with the addiction treatment services in each of the West London boroughs. The service is open to people living in Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster who have drug and alcohol issues.
You can read an article about the IPS into Work here.
To find out more visit We are Via – via (viaorg.uk) or to talk to one of the IPS specialists, please contact: ipsintowork@wdp.org.uk