Launches, Awards & Life Changing Transformation: Celebrating a Year in Programmes

It’s been a busy year for programmes at Better Connect.

Last March, we kicked off the last year of Multiply delivery (year 3 of 3) with a bang, commissioning two cases studies with Inspired Youth, and in May, excitedly welcomed Rise2Thrive and SHINE to our programme offer.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve celebrated new partnerships, shared powerful case studies, and cultivated better connections. Here’s a look at some of our programme highlights from the last year!

Multiply

There’s plenty to celebrate after 3 incredible years of transforming lives through Multiply. Across this multi-million-pound programme, our partnership has supported well over 1000 adults to develop confidence, key skills, and a newfound understanding of all things numeracy.

We’ve watched as participants have gone onto find work, pursue further education and self-employment through Keyworker support, and enthusiastically engage in numbers-based wellbeing activities — from crochet and cooking on a budget to archery, woodworking and ceramic sessions.

In March 2024, we partnered with Inspired Youth’s Kev Curran to help capture Kian’s story on Multiply with York-based partner Coterminous. A month later, we found ourselves in Skipton filming again — this time, showcasing one family’s inspiring journey toward self-employment with Craven College. 

In June of last year, we celebrated again when we were nominated alongside North Yorkshire Council and the City of York Council for our Multiply Programme Partnership. This nomination recognised the power of our collective impact and saw us win awards for ‘Outstanding Practice FE and Skills’, and ‘Quality Collaboration’.

Rise2Thrive

In May 2024, we threw an electric launch event at Roosters in Harrogate. Joined by our strong VCSE-led partnership — comprising 33 organisations spread throughout York and North Yorkshire — alongside Mayor David Skaith, we proudly celebrated the launch of Rise2Thrive (R2T).

A hybrid programme combining all the best elements of our RISE and Thriving at Work programmes, R2T was designed to support economically inactive and unemployed adults (RISE), as well as those in employment facing barriers due to neurodivergence, disability, or a mental or physical health condition (Thriving at Work).

Since launch, we’ve helped nearly 1,000 people thrive in their lives and work — delivering tailored employability support, access to education and training, and opportunities to engage in everything from bushcraft and counselling to self-employment guidance and financial support.

Back in September, we had the pleasure of meeting Vicky for the first time and felt compelled to partner with Inspired Youth again on a new project. Together, we captured her journey pre and post programme, exploring her experience of working with New Beginnings Peer Support and Mindful Photography UK on Rise2Thrive.

Vicky’s story, Life in Colour would go on to inspire our largest event yet: a programme-wide celebration of impact, partnership, and the importance of sustaining these vital programmes.

You can read more about the event here, and watch the story which sparked it all, below.

SHINE

Just a week on from the launch of Rise2Thrive, we were doubly thrilled to announce the launch of SHINE (Supporting Health Interventions, Neurodiversity, and Employment).

Smaller in scale but equally powerful in purpose, SHINE was delivered in partnership with five incredible organisations across the East Riding of Yorkshire, each bringing specialist knowledge — from mental health and neurodivergence to prison rehabilitation.

Over the course of the year, our partners have supported 129 adults who were economically inactive and facing complex barriers to employment and education, linked to disability, neurodivergence, or long-term mental and physical health conditions.

For many participants, SHINE has had a life-changing impact — providing one-to-one guidance and mentoring to improve wellbeing, build confidence, and open new pathways to skills, education, and sustainable employment.

Participants have moved into employment or actively begun job searching, while others have taken on volunteering roles or engaged with training. Many have reported improved confidence, stronger social skills, and a clearer sense of direction. Numerous participants also experienced meaningful improvements in their wellbeing; thanks to the personalised support they received.

For Callum, a SHINE participant supported by Working For Health (WFH), the journey has come full circle. Now employed at WFH, he’s found belonging and purpose with the very team that once supported him:

 “SHINE gave me the freedom to explore what I wanted to do. For the very first time, I feel comfortable and in a job role I can see myself in long term – I’m happy and excited for the future!”

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on the impact of these transformative programmes, we’re inspired by the real-life stories of resilience, partnership and achievement, and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

Stay tuned for more snapshots, more stories, and more impact across our programmes as we continue celebrating successes, sharing learnings — and shaping the legacies still to come!

Why not Connect with us to stay up-to-date with our team and programme developments?