News - Shaw Trust

Illustration of various young people, with the name of our pilot (Reframe) in the centre of the image.

Don’t ‘write off’ young people: insights from our Closer to Work report

29/06/2026

We need a new solution for 600k anxious ‘written off’ young people not working due to their health – often on benefits and receiving no employment support. These young people aren’t using public services: they don’t go to job centres, or even GPs. Working with youth consultancy Livity, we spoke with these young people to design our new solution, “Reframe, our West London pilot,” which aims to support 200 young people to move closer to work. What they told us also informed

Disability Power 100 to now continue, not close as it moves to independent leadership

16/06/2026

The DP100 finds a new home For over a decade, the Disability Power 100 (DP100) campaign recognised thousands of disabled leaders, trailblazers and changemakers. Shaw Trust was proud to lead the campaign and is now delighted to announce that the Disabled Entrepreneurs Network (DEN), led by Jacqueline Winstanley, has offered to take it forward. Shaw Trust is therefore donating the ownership of the campaign to DEN. A decade of impact and influence Under DEN, the DP100 will sharpen its focus on talent recognition, inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship. “I look forward to seeing the next phase of the

A milestone moment for Medway and Kent, as more residents move closer to work

01/04/2026

We’re helping even more people in Kent and Medway find good work through job support in Kent and Medway.As well as a three-year extension to our Individual Placement Support (IPS) contract, we’re supporting the delivery of Connect to Work in the region. This will help thousands more people to set foot on the career ladder or return to work after illness, and stay in their job through workplace adjustments.The picture in KentKent has a rich and colourful history. It famously

Shaw Trust wins new IPS contract in the South West to support people with severe mental health into work

01/04/2026

Shaw Trust wins new IPS contract in the South West to support people with severe mental health into work.From April 2026, we’re taking over the existing Individual Placement Support (IPS) service in Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, now named IPS Focus. Commissioned by the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, it will support people with serious mental health conditions into work.People will be able to access this service in a range of ways,

Illustration showing a man climbing up some colourful steps

The overlooked NEETs: the policy gap we can no longer ignore

10/03/2026

Authored by Julie Leonard, Chief Impact Officer at Shaw Trust. Julie has extensive experience working with local and central government to design and deliver programmes that drive social-economic impact. She leads on impact reporting and strategy at Shaw Trust, and oversees the Shaw Trust Foundation. This piece was originally published in The MJ.The current pictureThe weekly headlines on the rising NEET numbers show the need for bolder solutions. We talk of a million young people “falling through the cracks”. Within that group is a rising subset that current policy considerations and investment are unlikely to reach. Yes, removing the minimum wage rises will help

£50,000 awarded to Back Up in participatory grant pilot

12/02/2026

We’re pleased to award our first participatory grant of £50,000 to Back Up, a national charity helping people get their lives back on track after a spinal cord injury.About the projectReturning to work after a spinal cord injury can be a significant challenge. Many people don’t receive specialist vocational guidance until long after they have left hospital. This often results in a loss of confidence and a belief that employment may no longer be achievable. Earlier access to tailored support

Shaw Trust appoints first Chief Data and Technology Officer

04/02/2026

Dr Jude Threlfall-Sykes, PhD has been appointed as Shaw Trust’s first Chief Data and Technology Officer.Jude joined Shaw Trust in November 2024 as Director of Technology, where she has led improvements to digital infrastructure and systems across the organisation. She brings a breadth of experience from across the sector, having previously worked at organisations including the charity Change Grow Live and the NHS.Her appointment to this newly created Chief Officer role reflects the critical importance of data and technology in

A man and a woman sit talking and smiling in front of a laptop.

Hampshire Connect to Work contract awarded to Shaw Trust

30/01/2026

This month, we launched Connect to Work in Hampshire. Commissioned by Hampshire County Council, the programme will match services to local need, giving employers a diverse pool of talent to hire from, while supporting with onboarding and retaining employees. At the same time, local Hampshire residents with health conditions and disabilities can access 1:1 coaching and job matching, getting more people into work. The picture in Hampshire Hampshire is best known for its beautiful coastline and vast stretches of the New Forest. But published

Colourful image of people gathered together. Some are sitting and talking, others are on devices, and others are climbing stairs and ladders to show progress.

Supporting over a quarter of a million people: our impact in 2024-25

26/01/2026

Between September 2024 to August 2025, we helped over 270,000 people to access and stay in good work. Read our impact report. Our highlights in numbers 49,179 people joined our employment, health and wellbeing programmes. – 59% of our Individual Placement Support (IPS) participants who started employment were still working six months later. – 81% of people on our social prescribing programmes, including WorkWell, improved their wellbeing. 103,861 people learned new skills and progressed in their career journeys. – 25% of the

Shaw Trust wins two more Connect to Work contracts

04/12/2025

We’re proud to share that Shaw Trust has secured two Connect to Work contracts in Essex and the West Midlands. The contracts have been commissioned by Essex County Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), with funding from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Connect to Work supports people with disabilities, health conditions and other disadvantages to find and stay in work. People on the programme get one-to-one coaching and job matching from employment specialists, while employers can tap