As an employability programme, ATI provides hundreds of fantastic outcomes for its participants: employment, training and job searching.
Better Connect lead on ATI to help and fund our partners and participants to achieve these targets, but also to promote key social goals for participants including improved mental health and financial wellbeing.
Our mission is building a happier and more inclusive Yorkshire.
Action Towards Inclusion is part of the National programme Building Better Opportunities which is funded by the European Social Fund and National Lottery Community Fund.
Action Towards Inclusion supports people throughout York, North Yorkshire and East Riding.
The project is delivered through a partnership of skilled keyworkers and intervention partners who work for organisations in the voluntary and community sector.
Action Towards Inclusion is for adults* who are not working and would love support in getting ready for work or training in the future. It offers support to those who are the furthest from the labour market due to barriers such as mental health issues, debt and lacking qualifications.
We make sure all participants have the best match based on where they live and their specific needs and are ‘linked up’ with a local keyworker.
The keyworker will meet regularly with a participant getting to understand them and their personal background.
Action Towards Inclusion has supported over 2000 participants and got over 1000 of them into jobs, training or job seeking. The project has just been extended to run until 2023.
Support includes:
*We can work with some young people under 18 depending on their schooling situation. Please get in touch with us first to check if this applies.
Action Towards Inclusion
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Meet the Team
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Wellbeing Resources
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week we spoke to Joe, Programmes Manager on Action Towards Inclusion, about his experiences of loneliness and what it looks like across our programmes.. “Feeling alone sometimes is part of the human condition. Everyone will experience some feelings of isolation in their lifetimes. Even people who we
Action Towards Inclusion
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In March we ran a series of Local Linking Events. These events were an opportunity for people who are involved or interested in the Action Towards Inclusion or Thriving at Work programmes to come together, network and discuss important problems or issues that they may be faced with. One of the key issues that was
Action Towards Inclusion
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Thriving at Work
Today we say goodbye to our amazing CEO Sam Alexander. Sam has worked for Better Connect for thirteen years, taking over as CEO six years ago. Sam has created an inclusive, positive and exciting place to work for all of the staff here. We will miss her greatly, but know that it is time
Action Towards Inclusion
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Thriving at Work
We have been out on the road again in North Yorkshire! It has felt so good to see people face to face again, to talk in person about real issues our communities are facing and visit amazing local venue’s sampling lots of varied delicious lunch menu’s. Our Local Linking Events are for anyone wanting to
Action Towards Inclusion
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ESF Community Grants
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Today we get to meet Alex and Julie and hear about their experience of working at Better Connect and why they enjoy what they do! We loved talking to these two as its clear that we are not only passionate about what we do at Better Connect but we have fun doing it! For
Action Towards Inclusion
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I joined the Better Connect family in November 2020 after being made redundant from my previous company. When I was made redundant, it was during a difficult time of lockdowns and a lot of people in my position looking for work. This was a time filled with uncertainty and I was naturally feeling a
Action Towards Inclusion
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Kickstart
Meet the Team
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I started at Better Connect in June 2021, I was referred through the DWP’s Kickstart scheme and was offered the role of ‘Kickstart Assistant’ supporting the programme, employers and young people. Over the 6 months in my Kickstart role, with the help from my amazing manager, I learned what type of work I enjoy
Action Towards Inclusion
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Meet the Team
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What is it like to work at Better Connect? I was lucky enough to join Better Connect in April 2021, at an interesting time, as we transitioned from Your Consortium to Better Connect and underwent an organisational overhaul. Having joined straight out of university following a stint in retail, there was a palpable sense of
Action Towards Inclusion
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Better Connect is a uniquely wonderful place to work. I joined the team in 2017, way back when we were still called Your Consortium. From day one, I could tell this was a very special and unique place to work. It proved to be a fantastically stark contrast with my former workplaces. Before I
Action Towards Inclusion
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It was great to catch up with Stephen and Mick recently. Mick has been taking part in Action Towards Inclusion with support from Stephen – his York Learning keyworker. They’ve been on quite a learning journey, having to deal with the challenges and changes due to COVID and other hurdles along the way. For
Action Towards Inclusion
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Thriving at Work
We are really pleased to announce a new round of Local Linking events across York, North Yorkshire and the East Riding as part of Action Towards Inclusion and Thriving at Work. These events are a great networking opportunity – allowing keyworkers, intervention partners, participants and others to get together and share expertise and experiences. For
Action Towards Inclusion
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Better Connect and our ATI partners were delighted earlier this year to learn that we were successful in a second programme extension, taking our final end date to June 2023. Since we began delivering ATI a lifetime ago in early 2017, our partnership has achieved phenomenal results for individuals, moving people with many significant
Action Towards Inclusion
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People in the UK don’t talk about their money enough. Despite the COVID-19 crisis affecting finances, 9 in 10 UK adults – that’s 47 million people – don’t find it any easier to talk about money, or don’t even discuss it at all. We want to celebrate Talk Money Week and focus on
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,
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
Action Towards Inclusion
Carrie is a recent participant on Action Towards Inclusion – a dynamic programme across York, North Yorkshire and the East Riding supporting people into work, training and volunteering. Carrie faced a number of challenges but has made fantastic progress through taking part in the programme. Action Towards Inclusion is funded by the European Social
Action Towards Inclusion
Making Moves features the work of Jeni Golder and the Opportunity Centre in Scarborough. Action Towards Inclusion participants have been benefiting from yoga outside – helping build confidence.
Alex is the Head of Programmes at Better Connect, overseeing the amazing programmes that we manage within the team. Leading and supporting the Programmes Team, Alex’s role has a strong focus on development. This includes developing staff, systems, processes and relationships with delivery partners, funders and stakeholders. All to ensure that Better Connect programmes are successful, achieve their aims and ultimately transform people’s lives. Alex is also part of the Senior Management Team contributing to the smooth and efficient running of the company. The best bit of his job is seeing the life-changing impact that programmes have on staff and participants.
— Kahlil Gibran
Alex has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management and a PTLLS teaching qualification.
Alex began his career in customer service, moved to work in banking and then joined Better Connect following University in 2012. He felt a strong connection to the values and work within the community sector and has developed his career within the organisation, progressing from an Assistant to his current role as Head of Programmes. Along the way, Alex has worked across almost every aspect of the company.
For Alex, the most important part of work is feeling as though it is meaningful and that it is making a positive difference to society.
Becomes overly competitive when playing sport or games
Count your blessings, every day.
Charles is the Finance Coordinator of Better Connect, to that effect, he gets involved in the different Financial aspects of the Business. This includes Project Finance on Action Towards Inclusion. Working with different Partners and Clients is what makes this role exciting, forging new business relationships.
Charles has a BSc (Hons) in Accounting & Finance, MSc in Financial Accounting and Management and currently holds a Part Qualified Status with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Charles’ career has mainly been in Acounting & Finance as well as Financial Services and Banking. He Joined Better Connect in 2018 since then he has been involved in the Financial aspects of ATI.
Listen more and talk less
Hongdae in Seoul, South Korea
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Christine’s role as the Participant Experience Manager, is to lead on all aspects of participant experience for the Action Towards Inclusion (ATI) project. Her core role is to develop a thorough understanding of the experience of participants accessing the ATI Programme through examining current data collected and creating new participant engagement activities. Her aim is to improve ATI delivery and influence the design of new programmes through the information gathered. Her work involves working with our partners, to ensure all evidence and records collected for participants on the project, is fully compliant with all relevant funding guidance.
Christine has worked for many years for the Financial Sector in Customer Services and Marketing. She has gained many years of experience in people management and leadership together with strong administrative and office management skills.
Her qualifications are life skills, and she can be relied upon to listen, understand and support. She has excellent focus and attention to detail and strives to get things right first time every time.
She joined Better Connect in 2020, when she was at a crossroads and realised that working in the voluntary and community sector would be more meaningful and rewarding than being driven by profit. Working for and with people who value people and who operate inclusively without discrimination is a reward every day.
I’m a mean painter and decorator
Don’t stress over things you cannot control, it’s a waste of your precious energy
The Pembrokeshire Coast – beautifully unspoilt
Emily is one of the Finance and Audit Co-ordinators for Better Connect. She started this role in January 2022 after finishing her time on her Kickstart role . Her responsibilities now include checking financial claims and Audit Work. The best parts about the job are the welcoming environment created by everyone and knowing that what I’m doing is helping to make a difference in people’s lives.
— Stephen King
I have a BA (Hons) in Equestrian Management and Development from Myerscough College. I have previously worked at Subway and have previous experience working in the equine industry. Working in an organisation like Better Connect is a first for me and I’m currently here working through the Kickstart Programme as a Kickstart Assistant.
I’m excited to learn more about the workings of the voluntary sector and how I can be a part of it. However, I am most excited about helping with promotional activities for the programme, reading people’s experience of the programme and helping to create a Kickstart Development Network. The skills I wants to gain from my time here are confidence in the workplace and doing administrative tasks.
I knew how to ride a horse before I knew how to ride a bike.
The lake/ponds local to where I live.
Jacky is our Data and Analytics Manager and is responsible for data collation, analysis and reporting for the Action Towards Inclusion (ATI) project.
Jacky really enjoys Analytical work and likes to think she has an eye for detail! She also feels lucky to be part of a team where people are valued and listened to. Better Connect is a supportive and welcoming environment and everyone is so friendly.
Jacky has a background in the Commercial and Financial industry in an Analytical capacity. Over the last 15 years, she has worked in Analyst roles, where she has done a mixture of Business Support and Development, Audits, Finance and Systems support. She was looking for a role that would make the most of her Analytical skills at a company where she truly believed in their values, here at Better Connect, Jacky feels that she is able to use the skills she has gained to thrive in her role.
Jacky started at Better Connect in November 2020 as a Finance and Audit Co-ordinator responsible for checking financial claims and undertaking Audit work. Jacky has since progressed into becoming the Data and Analytics Manager where she feels she has been given a wonderful opportunity to be able to utilise her Analytical skills further.
Jacky really enjoys working alongside amazing people who support and encourage each other and being part of an organization who really care and help make a difference in transforming people’s lives.
I love older music, particularly 60s Music!
It’s nice to be nice, so treat people how you would like to be treated.
Madeira – It’s so beautiful, dramatic and inspiring
Joe is a Programme Manager on Action Towards Inclusion. He manages the performance of partners on the programme to achieve project targets and ensure high quality delivery. He most enjoys motivating, challenging and supporting partners to do their incredible work with their participants.
— Gene Wilder
Joe has a BA in Philosophy and is also mental health first aid trained.
Previously Joe worked in a Leeds school as a literacy tutor and then briefly at an insurance firm as an administrative assistant. He then joined Better Connect in 2017, as a programme coordinator: assisting partners and ensuring all their paperwork and claims were correct. He then became a manager, steering ATI towards success.
He also contributes to Better Connect’s marketing strategy and ATI’s focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.
This work matters to Joe because it creates tangible positive results for so many people – from improved mental health to giving people employment opportunities. He loves that the programmes unlock people’s full potential.
Has a 12 year old Patterdale Terrier and an aquarium of fish!
Thailand
Jonah is one of the Finance and Audit Coordinator at Better Connect. Internally, he assists staff in finance functions through auditing. Externally, he assists our partners on the ATI programme. The best part of his job is constantly learning and being challenged as well as the amazing team he works within.
— Mahatma Gandhi
Jonah started his career in a multinational financial technology company and progressed to Better Connect in 2019. He originally started out as a Programmes Coordinator and has since moved into a more finance focused role.
Jonah believes that the third sector is a vital part of creating a kinder and more inclusive society.
St Andrews Golf Course
The Lord of the Rings
Julie is Head of Finance at Better Connect and leads the Finance Team, whilst working alongside the Senior Management Team. She works on strategy to ensure the business is sustainable, using forecasting and scenarios. She monitors the numbers, cash and variances. Her favourite part of her job is teaching new skills, tips and tricks to her team. Julie loves sharing knowledge and developing people.
Julie is secretary of CIMA Members in Practice Panel, providing UK-wide support and access to quality training and development resources. She helped CIMA feed into Treasury how to better help small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
— David Bowie
Julie is a CIMA accountant with FCMA and CGMA designations.
Julie has previously worked in engineering as Finance Director and latterly as Managing Director. Whilst there, Julie worked with local schools to provide advice, support and funding for GCSE students enabling them to build Miniature F1 cars and visit the factory to understand internal processes.
Julie has spoken at business events and presented webinars for CIMA.
Julie has her own business providing outsourced FD services – Not Just an FD.
Julie is a qualified cub scout leader and has volunteered with People in Action social group for adults with learning difficulties.
Always show kindness & respect to others
Labyrinth starring David Bowie
Julie is the Finance and Audit Manager for our Action Towards Inclusion programme, so is responsible for ensuring the programme operates compliantly within all the EU regulations. She particularly loves the nitty gritty detail and finding solutions to help smooth out any issues. The best thing about working here is the fabulous team of people and the genuine culture of nurture and support.
— Henry Van Dyke
Julie has a BA (Hons) in Urban Geography and a Certificate in Management from Leeds University. She began her career piloting and running projects within the Chamber of Commerce and then later with the then Training and Enterprise Council. She took a career break whilst bringing up her children and worked part-time in a call centre for a well-known bank where she gained valuable experience of frontline customer service. Following redundancy, Julie set up her own business which she ran for several years until being drawn back into programme management, ultimately leading her to Better Connect in 2018.
Julie is a strong believer in the provision of opportunities for everyone and this runs through the core of Better Connect.
Be a mindful spender – Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves
Nidd Gorge and the stunning wooded walks
As a Participant Experience Coordinator, Laura works on Better Connect’s Action Towards Inclusion programme, a scheme which helps individuals navigate and traverse their barriers to employment, education, and volunteering. As Coordinator, she supports and manages the collaboration between partners, keyworkers, and participants on an administrative and ESF/National Lottery compliant scale. Laura tracks the ‘Participant Journey’ from start to finish, following participant engagement across the programme, and liaising with some truly transformative partners, as they deliver wide reaching support across York, North Yorkshire, and the East Riding area. The best part of her job is undoubtedly, seeing how the partnership empowers and facilitates change for those who need it.
— Oscar Wilde
Laura has a First-Class BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature from the University of Sheffield. Whilst studying there, she became involved in a university led volunteering opportunity with a local primary school, where she provided literacy support to the children over several weeks. Following this opportunity, she travelled to Thailand to teach English as a foreign language and gained a TEFL accreditation.
Although just starting out in the voluntary and community sector, having been a Customer Assistant at Marks & Spencer, Laura is a huge advocate for sustainable social change. She believes this begins with supporting and empowering individuals and their communities and championing social inclusion.
Bangkok
Amelie, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Natasha is the Chief Executive Officer at Better Connect. Natasha is proud to be leading this amazing team at Better Connect who are helping to make Yorkshire a place where every person can thrive in life and work. Better Connect has a great track record of delivery, partnership working and an incredibly committed team which are helping to transform lives. Natasha joined in May 2022 and instantly connected with the team and our vision. Natasha is focused on empowering the team and our partners to do more and be more. She absolutely loves being part of a team who are so full of purpose, thrive on autonomy and are experts in what we do. But it’s not just about the impact we are making and achieving our goals for Natasha, it’s about how we do it and having loads of fun along the way.
— Dalai Lama
Natasha has always enjoyed working in roles which are focused on enabling people and businesses to thrive in the North.
Before joining Better Connect as CEO, Natasha worked at Relate Bradford & Leeds helping people to develop and sustain healthy relationships and improve their mental health and wellbeing. She has been an entrepreneur and COO of Wizu Workspace a flexible workspace provider supporting the growth of businesses in Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield.
Natasha completed an MBA at Leeds University in 2016, where she is now a leader in residence. She then went on to be Regional Entrepreneur Director for NatWest supporting and helping to coach hundreds of entrepreneurs in accelerators across the North to start, scale and succeed. Natasha has both a banking and legal background. She worked as a banking lawyer at Walker Morris following which she joined Regional Lloyds Bank team as the Regional Sales Director and Client Services Director.
Natasha was appointed as a board member and trustee in 2021 for Trust Leeds, she has been on LEP investment steering groups, she has recently been appointed as an independent panel member at AFC(H) and is completing a NED insights programme shadowing NHS boards.
I love grass roots football! I play for Leeds City Lasses and help coach under 8 and 9 girls football. (I love playing sports…I might be just a little bit competitive!)
Outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens
I have just joined Better Connect as the role of ‘Participant Experience Coordinator‘ on the Action towards inclusion which is one of the longest running programmes here at Better Connect.
As a Participant Experience Coordinator , I will work closely with the Participant Experience Manager to provide administrative and data entry support across all elements of the programme. One of the main duties for this role will be quality checking paperwork and uploading it accurately onto our database. I will be required to communicate with partners, give feedback and support them to ensure paperwork is compliant. I will also help new partners on the paperwork systems and processes.
This was my first experience of working in an organisation like Better Connect. I was here through the Kickstart Programme as a ‘Grants Assistant’ and now have a full time role working within Better Connect. I am looking forward to learning new skills and meeting new people from all walks of life. I would like to gain more confidence in public speaking. I am most enthusiastic about finding out about all the different partners and how they change people’s lives.
I went to a French boarding school in the south of France when I was 11
Celebrate all the successes – No matter how small, a win is a win, especially when we take loses harder than we should. Take advantage of it
Sybille is one of the Finance and Audit Co-ordinators. She started this role in March 2022 and is responsible for checking financial claims and supporting with audits.
— Mother Teresa
I was born in Heidelberg in Germany where I lived until the age of 25 before moving to Yorkshire with my family. I studied psychology, anatomy and physiology and initially worked with people of all ages with hearing loss and hearing difficulty.
Having worked in healthcare, private sector and the NHS for several years in various roles, I feel very privileged to learn about the voluntary sector and the lifechanging difference this makes for so many individuals and even more privileged to be a part of a warm, dedicated and enthusiastic team.
I love anything creative and am always making something
Act as if what you do makes a difference, it does - William James
If you or someone you know are interested in taking the next big step in life, ATI could be for you.
You can refer someone or self-refer to us at atiyorkshire.org and we will contact you to find a perfectly matched mentor. Or either email [email protected] or you can phone 01423 795300 and we’ll be happy to give you more information.
More information related to the action towards inclusion project