Connect to Work Hull and East Yorkshire
Delivered by Shaw Trust on behalf of Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority
Support to find, stay in, or progress in work, at your pace.
Connect to Work Hull and East Yorkshire is a free, optional service that brings work and wellbeing support together. It’s open to local people aged 18 and over, who are facing barriers to work – like health or a disability.
Who the programme is for
Connect to Work helps people who are finding it hard to get a job, or to stay in work. This may be because of a health condition, or time away from the workplace.
You can join our free employment support programme in Hull and across East Yorkshire if you’re:
- looking for a job
- going back to work after a break or long-term absence
- worried you could lose your job because of your health.
The service is completely free, and you can leave at any time. You can decide what information is shared with current or potential employers.
What support you’ll get
One–to–one support from a Shaw Trust employment specialist, who will:
Listen to you and your needs
Understand your strengths and skills
Help you move towards your work goals
1. Learn about us
We’ll help you find the right programmes to support you.
2. Talk about you
We’ll identify your needs and get the right support, including how work might affect benefits.
3. Meet employers
We’ll talk to new or current employers to find jobs that match your goals.
4. Find or improve jobs
We’ll help you get work or the support you need for your current job.
5. Do well at work
We’ll support you to learn and succeed in your role.
6. Talk with your employer
We’ll make sure you get any adjustments you need to do your job.
How it works
- Fill out our quick form. You’ll then be contacted from one of our team, to check our free employment support programme is right for you.
- Meet your employment specialist. You’ll talk about your goals, skills and any support you might need.
- Get ready for work. We’ll work quickly, and within a month, we’ll begin approaching employers and helping you apply for jobs that suit you.
- Start work. When you find a role, you can get in-work support to help you succeed.
Connect to Work benefits
When you join Connect to Work Hull and East Yorkshire, you’ll get:
The right support for you:
We’ll work towards your work and health goals. This could be connecting you to support services, giving advice on writing CVs and job searches, or accessing local training and skills development.
A personal employment specialist:
You’ll be matched to a local Shaw Trust employment expert. They’ll give you one-to-one support, be your main point of contact and will shape their support around what you need.
Resilience and confidence coaching:
We’ll help you get ready for work – whether you’re starting a first job, returning to work, or need help with staying in your role.
Real experiences with Connect to Work
Here are two stories from real people we’ve supported through Connect to Work in other regions:
Who can join the programme
You can join if you:
- are aged 18 or over
- have the right to live and work in the UK
- aren’t working, or are worried about losing your job
- have a disability and/or health condition
- live in Hull and across East Yorkshire
- want to enter paid employment.
You must also have a health condition, disability, or be part of one of the specified groups with challenges into employment that would benefit from Connect to Work support:
- An offender or ex-offender
- A carer or ex-carer
- A person experiencing homelessness
- A former member of His Majesty’s (HM) Armed Forces (AF), a member of HM AF reserves, or a partner of current or former Armed Forces personnel
- A person where a drug or alcohol dependency, including a history of dependency, causes a significant barrier to work
- A care-experienced young person or care leaver
- A refugee or resettled Afghan
- A person on the Ukrainian scheme
- A survivor of domestic abuse
- A young person involved in, or at risk of being involved in, serious violence
- A survivor of modern slavery
If you’re already getting employment support in Hull, or getting work and health support in East Yorkshire, you won’t be able to join Connect to Work.
Join Connect to Work today
To join our free employment support programme, get in touch today. Our local team can tell you more about how Connect to Work can move you closer to your work and health goals.
You can either:
- Ask your healthcare professional to refer you during an appointment
- Fill out our simple online form (it only takes a few minutes).
- Email: connecttoworkHEY@shaw-trust.org.uk
- Call: 01482 427010
Frequently asked questions
Why choose Shaw Trust?
As the largest employment charity in England and Wales, we have a strong track record of helping people overcome barriers into work, so they can both find and keep good jobs. To do this, we work with local employers, health services and community groups. We offer programmes that support people with their health and employment in places like Hull and East Yorkshire to help people get into good work.
What is the Connect to Work programme?
It’s a voluntary, free employment support programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It’s part of the government’s Get Britain Working strategy, which aims to get around 300,000 people into work by 2030.
How can Connect to Work support me?
You’ll get tailored support to move you into work and stay well while you’re there. This includes:
- Getting a job: We’ll help you prepare for work, including writing or updating your CV, making applications, searching for roles and getting ready for interviews.
- Helping with your health: You can talk to us about your health and wellbeing, and we’ll connect you with the right services in your area. We can also guide you around benefits.
- Keeping your job: We can give you disability employment support in East Yorkshire and Hull. If you’re already in work or about to start a new role, we’ll help you talk to your employer about any workplace adjustments you need to keep it.
Does Shaw Trust already work in Yorkshire?
Yes, we’re helping people across the area already through our Connect to Work programme, offering free, personalised job support for people in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Is Connect to Work the same as IPS?
It’s delivered using the Individualised Placement and Support (IPS) model. IPS follows a “place, train and maintain” approach, moving people into work quickly while providing ongoing support. Evidence shows IPS is more effective than traditional approaches.
Do I have to pay for the service?
No. Our employment support in Hull and East Yorkshire is fully funded by DWP and delivered locally through Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority. There’s no cost to take part.
Delivered in partnership with
To request this information in other formats please contact: studio@shaw-trust.org.uk