Connect to Work scheme receives almost 1,000 referrals in first few months
A scheme to help people with long-term health conditions find and stay in employment has received almost 1,000 referrals in its first few months and is already making a difference to people's lives.
Connect to Work aims to build on the achievements of the previous Working Well Norfolk and Local Supported Employment projects and reduce the county's higher than average economically inactive population.
A total of 109,100 (20.6%) of individuals aged 16-65 in Norfolk were classed as economically inactive in 2024 - 1.5% higher than post-covid - and 30,100 (27.7%) were identified as having long-term sickness, compared with 23.7% in 2019. This is higher than the East of England figure of 25.9% and the UK average of 27.2%.
The Department for Work and Pensions has commissioned Norfolk County Council to run the scheme, and it is being rolled out through delivery partners Future Projects, Local Supported Employment, Norfolk and Waveney MIND, Seetec, Shaw Trust, and Standguide - potentially to more than 4,000 people.
Connect to Work launched in December 2025 and is aimed at people aged 18 and over from Norfolk (and 16-17 in some cases) from a wide range of cohorts. These include people with mental and physical health challenges, learning disabilities, neurodiversity, care leavers, carers, military veterans, ex-offenders, the homeless, refugees and victims of domestic abuse.
People who are in work but at risk of having to give up due to their health condition or other complex challenges will also be supported by the UK Government-funded programme.
Shaw Trust provides one-to-one support for people in Great Yarmouth. This includes personalised guidance for job searching, support during periods of long-term leave and advice on work adjustments where someone's health or personal circumstances are affecting their job.
Yarmouth resident, Leslie, 71, became depressed after losing his job as a taxi driver due to a sleep apnoea diagnosis. Unable to live on his pension alone, Leslie knew he needed to find work. Using his experience and skills in DIY, and with support from his employment specialist, he now has his own local handyman business and is financially stable. Leslie said: "This has changed me. I am not depressed anymore. I am happy to get up every day and go to work."
Tiffany, 26, also from Great Yarmouth, took some time out to focus on her mental health but the thought of getting back to work was daunting. Wanting to start slowly, Tiffany secured a part-time job and hopes to one day use her lived experience to give back to her community.
She explained: "After being out of work for a year, Connect to Work gave me that confidence to step back into employment with so much support and encouragement. Not only with finding a job that's right for me but ensuring I'm getting the support from my workplace. I've found a role that suits me and I still get the best support from my employment specialist to further my career."
Cllr Fabian Eagle, Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills at Norfolk County Council said: "This kind of support can be a game changer for people whose health issues or disabilities are preventing them from finding a job or staying in work, and the number of referrals we have received already shows the level of demand."
