The Royal Borough of Greenwich has secured £5.8 million in government funding to help residents who face barriers to employment find and sustain meaningful work.
The funding will support the launch of Connect to Work, a new voluntary programme designed to provide up to 12 months of tailored, one-to-one vocational support for people who are unemployed or at risk of losing their job.
Delivered by Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB), the council’s employment and skills service, the scheme is expected to support more than 1,500 people across the borough over the next five years.
Connect to Work is aimed at people who struggle to find work due to health conditions, disabilities, or personal circumstances. It will offer practical and personalised support to help individuals build confidence, develop skills, and access sustainable employment.
The programme is open to residents aged 18 and over who meet one or more of the following criteria:
• Living with a physical or mental health condition or long-term disability
• Ex-offenders or carers/ex-carers
• People affected by homelessness or substance dependency
• Refugees, resettled Afghans or Ukrainians
• Survivors of domestic abuse or modern slavery
• Armed Forces veterans or care leavers
• Young people at risk of serious violence
Residents can be referred by health practitioners or self-refer directly to the scheme.
Councillor Jackie Smith, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Business, Skills and Greenwich Supports, said the programme will make a tangible difference to those struggling to find work.
“Our mission is that everyone has the opportunity to secure a good job. By providing tailored and individual support, Connect to Work will help overcome barriers experienced by some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and give them a helping hand to find sustained employment,” she said.
Councillor Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and Borough of Sanctuary, added that helping residents into work also improves wellbeing and social inclusion.
“Finding suitable job opportunities for people with disabilities and complex needs will not only help them with a regular income – it will have a positive impact on well-being by expanding social connections and bringing a sense of achievement,” she said.
Connect to Work forms part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Get Britain Working Plan, complementing two existing initiatives already active in the borough:
• The Restart programme, launched in 2021, has supported 1,496 people who have been unemployed for nine months or longer.
• The Trailblazer initiative, introduced in June 2024, has already created 24 paid placements for young people not in education or training, care leavers, and unpaid carers.
GLLaB will continue to provide employment support for residents not eligible for Connect to Work, helping people at all stages of their career — from those seeking their first job to professionals looking to retrain or return to work.
Councillor Smith said the service’s partnership approach remained key to its success.
“We’ve seen great results through programmes like Restart and Trailblazer, and we’re confident Connect to Work will build on that success,” she added.
For more information about Connect to Work, visit Connect to Work – Local London
