Shared Values: The Foundation of Successful Employability Partnerships

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.  

Shared Values: The Foundation of Successful Employability Partnerships

Blog Connect to Work Impact Internal Meet the Team news item Rise2Thrive & Trailblazer STEP UP Trailblazer Community Grants



  2026 has been a significant year for the employability sector, bringing a wave of ambitious opportunities and major programmes designed to reshape how people are supported into sustainable employment. From Connect to Work and the Jobs Guarantee, to the emerging landscape of Future Employment Support, the scale and ambition of what lies ahead is

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“I can now see myself getting back to work, I am looking forward to my future and getting stronger”

Blog Impact Rise2Thrive & Trailblazer



Rise2Thrive Trailblazer is a programme designed to improve people’s health, confidence, skills, circumstances and ultimately their employability, moving them closer towards a position where they are thriving in their life and in work. The programme is delivered through a partnership of 35 hyper-local voluntary and community sector organisations, all with different specialisms, based across the

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“The idea that’s there’s possibilities now gives me hope” – Sean’s journey on Rise2Thrive Trailblazer

Blog Impact news item Rise2Thrive & Trailblazer



[Pictured – Keyworker Chris] For most of his adult life, Sean thought the problem was him.   A former Aeronautical Engineer, he’d spent years of his working life in and out of high-pressure office environments, caught in a near-constant cycle of burnout, stress and ill health. Yo-yoing between GP appointments, medical investigations and repeated rounds

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Better Connect Makes the Finals at ERSA’s 2025 Employability Awards

Blog Impact news item Rise2Thrive & Trailblazer



  Last month, we received some incredible news – Better Connect was shortlisted as a finalist for the ERSA 2025 Partnership and Collaboration Award. This brilliant category recognises organisations across the UK that are delivering genuinely exemplary support to jobseekers. To make the cut alongside some real employability giants was no small feat, and we

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Origins, Impact & Legacies: Evaluating Our Rise2Thrive Programme

Blog Impact news item Research & Reports Rise2Thrive Rise2Thrive & Trailblazer



  At the end of March, the first year of Rise2Thrive officially came to a close. But now, a couple of months into the programme’s second year of funding, we’re still reflecting on the initial learnings and legacy of that seminal first year. With the release of our two latest Rise2Thrive evaluation reports, today we’re

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Connecting Work, Health and Skills Through Local Linking Events

Blog news item Rise2Thrive & Trailblazer



  Join Us For Local Linking Events This July This July, we’re bringing together different stakeholders, partners, and organisations who make a real impact on the lives of local people across York and North Yorkshire. Throughout the month, we’ll be hosting a series of local linking events across our current delivery districts. These events are

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A New Chapter: Launching Rise2Thrive & Trailblazer

Blog Impact news item 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

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