Our Projects

Why our projects are different

 

We design and lead innovative partnership projects that transform the lives of people across Yorkshire.

It’s not what you do, but how you do it….

We get regular feedback from participants and delivery partners that our projects are different to anything they have experienced before. Better Connect projects make people feel like they matter and that their voice is important.  People involved in our projects feel empowered to make decisions, supported to try new things and valued just for being themselves.  

This is fundamental to our mission and hardwired into everything we do-

  • We work with partners, not sub-contractors.
  • We support participants, not recipients.
  • Our leadership is about empowerment and co-creation, not instructing and enforcing.

Since our inception in 2007, we’ve designed and led dozens of different programmes working with hundreds of partners and transforming the lives of thousands of people. We are excited to share more information about our current projects and the difference they make to people, businesses and communities.

Current Projects

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RISE

RISE is an employability programme for people in North Yorkshire and York who are economically inactive and aged 18 or over (or 15-17 and NEET). It is for people furthest from work with multiple complex barriers e.g. mental/physical health issues. RISE is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity fund (UKSPF)

View Project
  • Partnership:

    Closed for new delivery partners

  • Participants:
    Open for new participants
  • Location:

    York and North Yorkshire

  • Audience:

    Economically Inactive Participants

  • Deadline:

    March 2024

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Action Towards Inclusion

Action Towards Inclusion is a life changing programme that offers support to adults in York, North Yorkshire and the East Riding and helps people into employment and training. The partnership is now established but if you are interested in accessing the support then follow the links below to find out more.

View Project
  • Partnership:

    Closed for new delivery partners

  • Participants:
    Referrals closed
  • Location:

    York, North Yorkshire and East Riding

  • Audience:

    Unemployed and econonimcally inactive participants

  • Deadline:

    Project finished March 2023

    Currently evaluating impact of project

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Thriving at Work

Vision – To create inclusive, accessible, and healthy workplaces that increase productivity and create an environment where all employees can thrive. To achieve this, we have created the Thriving at Work project – that offers 3 different types of support to employers and employed individuals that all work towards and contribute to achieving our vision. Organisations and individuals can access as much or as little support as they need. Our holistic approach ensures that all Thriving at Work support is designed with you in mind.

View Project
  • Partnership:

    Closed for new delivery partners

  • Participants:
    Referrals Closed
  • Location:

    York, North Yorkshire and East Riding

  • Audience:

    Businesses, non-profit organisations and employed participants

  • Deadline:

    Programme finished June 2023

    Current evaluating impact of project

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Multiply

Multiply is the government’s new £560 million programme to help transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of adults across the UK and will be delivered through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding is distributed across local councils and then allocated to providers to deliver various different activities to support individuals with their numeracy skills.

View Project
  • Partnership:

    Open to new partners

  • Participants:
    Open to new participants
  • Location:

    York and North Yorkshire

  • Audience:

    Organisations and Employers able to support participants to develop skills in Maths

  • Deadline:

    Current delivery by end of March 2024

Past Projects

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Talent Match

The Leeds City Region Talent Match Programme was a £6.9m investment from the Big Lottery Fund to support young people aged 18-24 across the Leeds City Region to create transformational change in their lives and progress closer to the labour market.

Outcomes

2,500 young people engaged on the programme

500 (20%) of these to be “hidden NEET”

640 young people progressing to employment and sustained employment

  • Location:

    West Yorkshire

  • Lifespan:

    April 2013 – June 2019

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ESF Community Grants

ESF Community Grants was part of the European Social Fund Programme distributing £2,000,000 in small grants across Humber, York and North Yorkshire areas. Better Connect worked in partnership with Humber Learning Consortium to distribute grants across the region, these grants were used to support individuals to move forward with their lives and closer towards the labour market.

Outcomes

1200 individuals supported through the Community Grants programme

£1,053,694.23 awarded to partners across North Yorkshire

86 completed and went into employment

80 completed and went into further education

  • Location:

    York & North Yorkshire

  • Lifespan:

    2012 – 2023

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Kickstart

Kickstart provided real job placements for young people aged 16–24 currently claiming Universal Credit, to gain experience, skills, and confidence. Employers received funding for placements of 25 hours/week on the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage depending on the young person’s age.

  • Location:

    Gateway for organisations across York and North Yorkshire

  • Lifespan:

    2020 – 2022