A New Chapter: Launching Rise2Thrive & Trailblazer
We’re Excited to Announce the Launch of Rise2Thrive and Trailblazer!
On the 13th of May, we officially launched Rise2Thrive and Trailblazer — our two newest partnership programmes designed to unlock potential and expand opportunities for adults across York and North Yorkshire.
Joined by our partnership of locally rooted community organisations, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, David Skaith, and key regional stakeholders, the event marked the beginning of exciting new partnerships, trailblazing funding initiatives, and growing opportunities for adults across the region.
We heard from the team as they introduced the two programmes, set the scene, and helped facilitate new connections between partners. Later, we were honoured to welcome guest speakers David Skaith and our research partner, Dr Jane Suter (University of York) to the stage, as they shared their insights and vision for the months ahead.
About the Programmes
Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and by the Mayoral Combined Authority through £1 million of a new £10 million Economic Inactivity Trailblazer; Rise2Thrive and Trailblazer are two complementary employability support programmes delivered through one unified partnership.
The programmes mark an exciting next chapter in our mission to create an empowered, thriving region, and follow the successes and learnings of four of our former employability projects: Rise2Thrive (2024 – 2025), RISE (2023 – 2024), Thriving at Work (2021 –2023) and Action Towards Inclusion (2017 – 2023).
Who Are the Programmes For?
Rise2Thrive supports adults who are economically inactive and those already in work but facing significant barriers to moving forward.
Trailblazer focuses on supporting specific groups of economically inactive individuals:
- 16 to 24-year-olds
- 50 to 64-year-olds
- People living with long-term sickness
- Communities in rural and coastal areas
What Participants Can Expect
At the heart of both programmes is our flexible, person-centred approach. Every participant will receive tailored one-to-one support from a dedicated Keyworker, plus access to the right interventions for their needs — helping them take meaningful steps towards overcoming the barriers in their lives.
Support could include:
- Employability guidance: CVs, cover letters, job searching, interview prep
- Skills development: English, maths, digital, green skills, ESOL and more
- Financial wellbeing: budgeting, debt advice, income support
- Mental & physical wellbeing: personalised support and interventions
Meet the Partnership
Over the next 10 months, we’ll be working closely with the incredible organisations that make up this new partnership, supporting over a thousand individuals to improve their health, skills, and employability.
Our 35-strong partnership brings together a diverse range of expertise, whether that’s ecology-based outdoor interventions, or specialist employability training and support.
As the lead partner, we’ll be supporting and facilitating our partners to do what they do best: flexible, tailored delivery — all whilst demonstrating the programme’s life changing impact along the way. We’ll be sharing more about our partnership and participant journeys over the coming months, but for now, here’s a run-down of the community-first organisations we’re proud to be partnering with to transform thousands more lives across the region.
Interested in what we do?
Post by Laura Sandiford
Impact Coordinator
A keen storyteller & collaborator, Laura works alongside Hannah as the Impact Coordinator, where she measures and highlights the impact of Better Connect across its business, programmes, and partnerships. She does so by working with a range of people to gather information and stories, which she then translates into engaging content across Better Connect’s channels.
Building relationships is a large part of Laura’s role, alongside ensuring the ‘’Better Connect story’’ is woven throughout all communications.
Laura’s favourite part of the role is connecting with the faces behind the case studies and giving voice to their experiences.
Learn more about Laura