Hybrid working: how we opened the offices

Why Voice is Important

One of the 3 strategic goals of Better Connect is to Inspire Change. This involves promoting social inclusion as an essential part of creating vibrant, productive and prosperous communities.  

We aim to inspire change in 3 ways: 

  • Sharing participants stories – Through our projects, our partners have supported thousands of participants. We know that behind these big numbers, each person has their own individual story of how they have been supported to transform their lives. We are delighted that some of these people have chosen to share their stories with us. And now, we get to share those stories with you.  
  • Thinkpieces and blogs – Our staff and partners have a huge amount of knowledge on lots of issues regarding inclusion, diversity, wellbeing and employment. Some of this comes from their work and education and much of it comes from lived experience. We create and share blogs and thinkpieces written by our staff and partners to raise awareness and contribute positively to the conversation about these key issues.  
  • Representation – We are honoured to represent social inclusion issues and the voluntary and community sector in multiagency groups and policy formation. We do this by listening to our partners and participants and using our platforms to amplify their voices and perspectives. We connect policy makers with people on the ground to ensure that policies and funding have the greatest positive impact in communities.  

Hybrid working: how we opened the offices

Blog news item



  Reopening the office?  Returning to the office?  Getting back to normal? Whichever term you prefer, figuring out how your organisation will work now that we’re allowed back into offices can seem a daunting task.  If you are still wary of how you might reopen your office, perhaps our story can lend you some confidence.

Young People Feedback on the Kickstart Programme

Blog Kickstart news item



  “It’s the best job I’ve ever had!”, “I’m loving it!” was just some of the amazingly positive feedback we have received from Kickstart young people about their current placements. As the Kickstart Assistant at Better Connect one of my first tasks was to introduce myself to all the young people that were currently in

“The work I’m doing on Kickstart is helping me feel confident in myself and my own decisions which is changing me for the better”

Blog Careers Kickstart Meet the Team news item



I never thought I would be involved in Kickstart; however, it has taken over my life in the best way! At the start of the pandemic, I had to come home to finish of my degree online following this time I found myself on universal credit and working a low hour’s part time job. This

“When I started on my Kickstart placement, I wasn’t expecting the support I have received, it has been amazing!”

Blog Careers Kickstart Meet the Team news item



The last 18 months have been different for everyone. People have lost their jobs, had mental health challenges, and being stuck in all-round hard situations! There has been some good that has come from this time too. My story began before the pandemic. For three years I worked in a retail job part time while

Interview Top Tips for Kickstarters

Blog Careers Kickstart news item



    The truth is all employers will be looking for something different when they are interviewing candidates for a job. It depends on many factors such as the job role itself, our own personal preferences, the ‘idea’ of the sort of person we may want, the organisations values and many many more things! Now

Stress Busting Strategies

Blog Mental Health news item Wellbeing Resources



  We all know the feeling of stress at work now and then. I absolutely love my job, but I’m no stranger to the pressure you can feel when there’s deadlines looming and just not quite enough hours in the day to check every last email… That being said, I’ve found it’s really important to

Fanta’s Story

Action Towards Inclusion



  Today we meet Fanta, who is originally from Gambia and has lived in York now for three years. Fanta accessed the Action Towards Inclusion programme due to experiencing housing issues whilst she was pregnant with her daughter and received keyworker support from Liz at the Opportunity Centre. Fanta has received support with housing, education,

Thriving at Work Training – FAA Award in Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health

Mental Health news item Thriving at Work Wellbeing Resources



  Thriving at Work is an innovative project that offers employers and employees a range of support  – helping to make workplaces more inclusive and supporting. This is a one day course to be held on the 22nd October 2021 and is available individuals that wish to improve their knowledge of mental health in the

Cleaning Up The Beach

Action Towards Inclusion



  Laughter, waves, singing, birds… Just some of the sounds of a Scarborough beach clean. The Opportunity Centre (previously Aspire Igen) is a Yorkshire based social enterprise committed to changing lives for the better through learning and work. On ATI, they work across Scarborough, York and Ryedale to support lone parents. They give them 1-1

Thriving at Work – Lisa’s Story

Thriving at Work



  “I have had many dark days through depression and my anxiety has at times been so debilitating. Ricky has given me the tools to control my emotions and not let my mental health control me but learn to live with it….”   It was great to receive a recent case study from Working For

Connecting with the Outside – St Nick’s

Thriving at Work



Thriving at Work aims to support more people to thrive at work. It has a particular focus on supporting inclusive workplaces that can unlock the potential of staff who are neurodiverse, disabled or experience mental health challenges. We recently met up with Esther from St Nicks  – who talked about their exciting offer as part

Inclusive and Active Citizens

ESF Community Grants



  Our latest video case study features Jake and the LGBT+ Forum in York.  They have recently been an ESF Community Grants delivery partner – offering confidence building courses sand support in CV writing and interview techniques to unemployed people in North Yorkshire. Jake describes the overall work of the forum as “…wanting to help