Connect to Work: Free Employment Support in the Black Country

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If you live in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton, you could get support with finding and keeping work.

Our free employment support in the Black Country is open to residents aged 18-24 with a health condition, disability or disadvantaged background, and gives practical, one-to-one support shaped to your needs.

What you'll get

Connect to Work covers personalised job searching, support after long-term sick leave, advice on workplace adjustments, and much more. It’s designed to help you move forward in work with confidence.

Here’s how Connect to Work can help:

Job searching

  • Understand which roles are right for you.
  • Build your confidence for job searching and applications.
  • Prepare you for interviews.

Support in work

  • Explore adjustments for staying in work safely.
  • Plan for your return to work, if you’re on long-term leave.

Workplace adjustments

  • Find ways to make your work more manageable.
  • Understand reasonable adjustments that could support you.
  • Help you talk to your employer.

Our Employment Specialists find the right role for you, by linking with employers across the Black Country – including Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. You can:

  • Get to know your skills, strengths and the types of work that match your needs and interests.
  • Access extra support. This includes help finding work with a health condition, returning to work after illness, workplace adjustments support and training.
  • Set up a clear plan to help you reach your goals and work out where to go next.
  • Look for jobs, prepare your CV and practise interview questions.
  • Manage your health and wellbeing through personalised coaching, support to stay in work or help with finding a job.
  • Talk to us about support to stay in work long-term, and any help you might need to do your job.

We work with employers and health providers (where needed) to provide holistic support, empowering you to better manage your health and find or keep a job.

Who can join Connect to Work

If you live in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and have a disability or health condition or from a disadvantaged background, you could access our free employment support in the Black Country. We’ll tailor the service to your needs and help you feel more confident about finding and staying in work.

To be eligible, you must:

  • Live in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton.
  • Be aged 18 to 24.
  • Not receiving support through an alternative DWP employment programme.
  • Have the right to live and work in the UK.

How to get support

You can either refer yourself to Connect to Work Black Country, or someone else can refer you (with your consent). This could be your employer, GP, local council or housing association. We’ll then contact you to talk through your situation and the type of support that might help.

Step 1 of 4
Who is support for? (required)

Alternatively, you can contact us on:

Email: connecttoworkblackcountry@shaw-trust.org.uk

Tel: 0808 1783 354

Finding alternative support if you are not eligible for Connect to Work

Please contact BirminghamPURE@birmingham.gov.uk

Please click here to register for support or contact us at jobshop@coventry.gov.uk.

Please click here and follow the link to register for a My Dudley account.

Please contact enquiries_recruitment@sandwell.gov.uk

Please click here to register for support.

Please contact walsallworks@walsall.gov.uk

Please contact wolvesatwork@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Connect to Work

Delivered in partnership with

West Midlands Combined Authority, Funded by UK Government