Welcome to Connect to Work Kent and Medway

Check eligibility

Get free support with finding, starting and keeping a job through
Connect to Work.

Sign up to Connect to Work, and get help with searching for roles, making applications, practising interviews and workplace adjustments.

Our free, voluntary programme is delivered on behalf of Kent County Council and Medway Council. It’s open to adults living in Swale, Canterbury and Ashford.

Who the programme is for

We’re here to support people who are finding it hard to start work, return after time away, or stay in their job due to health or personal reasons. We help people from all backgrounds and experiences to move closer to work, and succeed in their role once they find it.

The people we support are often:

  • Living with a disability, long-term health condition or type of neurodivergence.
  • Going back to the workplace after a break.
  • Worried about staying in work because of their health.
  • Adjusting after major life changes.
  • Managing caring responsibilities.
  • Living with housing instability.
  • Those who have been in the justice system.
Check eligibility

How the programme works

We know that finding – or keeping – work is different for everyone. So, we tailor our support to you. Once you join, you’ll be matched with an employment advisor, who’ll help with your work and wellbeing journey, including:

  • Building your confidence and self-esteem.
  • Planning your goals and next steps.
  • Preparing for work through CVs, applications and interview practice.
  • Understanding your strengths and skills.
  • Looking for the right job roles and opportunities.
  • Helping you stay in work while managing a health condition.
  • Managing any workplace adjustments you might need.
  • Signposting you to wellbeing support.
  • Connecting you with local training and services.
Sign up now

Connect to Work programme benefits

Our one-to-one approach covers every stage of your work journey. When you join Connect to Work, you’ll get:

The right support at the right time:

We bring work and wellbeing together, so you can meet your employment goals while managing your health. This includes referring you to related services that can help you to stay in work.

A dedicated employment specialist:

You’ll be paired up with a local employment expert from Shaw Trust who’ll provide personalised support, and be your main point of contact for the programme.

Coaching for resilience and confidence-building:

Our team will help you to feel ready for work again – whether you’re at risk of losing your job or searching for a new one.

Eligibility

You could be eligible to join Connect to Work if you:

Are aged 18 or over.

Have the right to live and work in the UK.

Have a disability and/or health condition, or other complex barrier into work.

Are out of work, or at risk of losing your job.

Live in Swale, Canterbury and Ashford.

Join Connect to Work today

It’s quick and easy to access our job support programme. 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).

or get in touch by:

You can either refer yourself to Connect to Work, or be referred by a healthcare professional , friend or family member.

Sign up now

Frequently asked questions

It’s a voluntary supported employment programme launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It’s a key part of the government’s plan to Get Britain Working, and will help around 300,000 people across England and Wales in the next five years.

We can help with getting a job, caring for your wellbeing, and setting you up for success in the workplace:

  • Finding work: Get job-ready, from writing CVs, cover letters and applications to applying for roles and preparing for interviews.
  • Looking after you: Talk to us about your health and wellbeing, and we’ll recommend relevant services. We can even support you with benefits.
  • Staying in work: Whether it’s a current job or a new job, we can advise you and your employer on reasonable adjustments that will help you to thrive.

IPS (Individualised Placement and Support) is the delivery model we use for Connect to Work, which focuses on the “place, train and maintain” approach. IPS is twice as likely to help people into work than more traditional models. In 2024 alone, we also supported over 9,000 people through IPS. Read our IPS impact report from 2024 to find out more.

Connect to Work Kent and Medway is fully funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and delivered locally through Kent County Council, so it’s free for you to access.

Yes. As well as being one of the official delivery partners for Connect to Work in Kent and Medway, we deliver other work and health programmes in the area – like Live Well Kent and Medway.

We’re also officially endorsed: in 2023, we received the IPS Grow Quality Mark. A year later, we were awarded the IPS Grow Exemplary Quality Kitemark.

Connect to Work

Delivered in partnership with

Kent County Council, Medway council, Migrant help, The Poppy Factory

To request this information in other formats please contact: studio@shaw-trust.org.uk