Marvin OnumonuThousands of sick and disabled people in England are set to get support to find secure jobs after a major expansion of specialist employment services was revealed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Funding worth £338m will go to 15 areas as part of the Connect to Work programme.
The aim is to help more than 85,000 people with health conditions or complex barriers into work.
Across England and Wales, the scheme is set to support around 300,000 people over five years.
The plan is part of a wider £3.8bn package for employment support.
People can self-refer or be referred by healthcare professionals, local authorities or voluntary groups.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “For too long, millions of people have been denied the support they need to get back to health and back to work.
“It’s bad for their living standards, it’s bad for their families, and it’s bad for the economy.
“That’s why we’re taking decisive action by investing millions of pounds so sick or disabled people can overcome the barriers they face and move out of poverty and into good, secure jobs as part of our Plan for Change.”
Central London Forward has been allocated up to £71.9m to help 16,800 people.
The Local London sub-regional partnership is set to get up to £47.1m to support 12,350 people in nine boroughs.
South Yorkshire will receive up to £35.3m to help 9,950 people across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster.
Greater Essex will get up to £30.7m to support 7,800 people in Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock and Essex.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “I want South Yorkshire to be a place where we all thrive. Where poor health doesn’t hold us back. And work plays a huge part.
“It’s not just about wages – it’s about dignity, pride, and the security that comes from knowing you can support yourself and your family.
“Right now, more than 140,000 people across South Yorkshire aren’t in work.”
Coppard added: “But many of those people desperately want to have a job, want to provide for their families, and contribute to the future of our communities.
“Which is why I’m proud that South Yorkshire is one of the areas across England and Wales delivering Connect to Work.
“It’s a programme designed to help those with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or from disadvantaged backgrounds, into good, secure jobs.”
He said: “And I’m even prouder that Connect to Work is part of the national Pathways to Work project, which we pioneered right here in South Yorkshire.
“South Yorkshire’s at the forefront of tackling these challenges nationally, and we’re increasingly a model for other places across the country.”
Connect to Work has already started in some areas.
In West London, £42.8m was allocated earlier this year to support 10,800 people.
Awais Ashraf, a Connect to Work participant in West London, said: “My health suffered with the loss of a family member, which led me into a period of depression and anxiety, and meant I lost my employment just under two years ago.
“My JCP Workcoach referred me to Connect to Work. I received a blend of support – from advice and tools in self-managing my health condition to identifying what skills I already had and could be transferred to another role.
“I am now working as a Teaching Assistant & knowing I have my Employment Specialist supporting me while I am in work is also a great reassurance.”
Councillor Tom Hunt, Chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee, said: “The Government’s decision to provide grant funding to councils and mayoral areas to deliver Connect to Work is a positive step.
“Evidence shows that councils are best placed to understand and respond to the needs of their communities, and the lga has long called for a more local approach to helping people back into employment.
“Connect to Work will enable councils and mayors, working with partners, to design tailored support for people who are currently out of the labour market due to health conditions, disability, or complex needs.”
Hunt added: “This not only facilitates supporting people move closer to work but also helps reduce wider social and financial pressures on communities and services, which helps reduce long-term welfare dependency, and creates stronger and more productive, resilient local economies.”
