The Shaw Trust is aiming to support over 10,000 West London residents into sustainable employment through its Connect to Work programme. The initiative, launched in partnership with the West London Alliance on 1 May 2025, was highlighted at the Central Hounslow Area Forum meeting on Thursday 17 July 2025.
The Connect to Work programme focuses on assisting individuals with disabilities, health conditions, and other complex barriers to finding and maintaining employment. These complex barriers include being an ex-offender, a carer or ex-carer, a homeless person or currently at risk of homelessness, a person with a drug or alcohol dependency, a care leaver, a refugee, or a victim/survivor of domestic abuse or modern slavery. The programme is available to disabled people as defined in the Equality Act 2010, or individuals from special disadvantaged groups with additional complex barriers, who are economically inactive, unemployed or at risk of dropping out of work, aged 18 or over (with exceptions for NEET 16+ years old), have the right to work and live in the UK, and are not on a DWP employment programme. According to the Public Reports Pack, the eligibility criteria for individuals from 'special disadvantaged groups with additional complex barriers' includes being economically inactive, unemployed, or at risk of dropping out of work; being aged 18 or over; having the right to work and live in the UK; and not being on a DWP employment program.
The programme targets residents in Barnet, Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham.
The Shaw Trust, established in 1982, describes itself as a social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility. According to the Public Reports Pack, the organisation supported 340,000 people last year by delivering diverse range of not-for-profit public services focusing on care, education, work and wellbeing.
The Connect to Work programme delivery model is underpinned by the supported employment quality framework (SEQF). The Public Reports Pack outlines the five stages of the Supported Employment model:
- Engaging jobseekers
- Vocational profiling and action planning
- Employer engagement
- Job matching and securing employment
- In-work support and career development
Each customer will be assigned a dedicated professional who will provide tailored, one-to-one support to the individual to find and sustain meaningful employment. The Employment specialist is the key link between the individual, employers and support services, ensuring that everyone involved is working towards the same goal.
The Shaw Trust follows a No Wrong Door
approach – ensuring that every individual is guided to the right support, regardless of their circumstances. Whether someone needs job coaching, vocational training, or specialist guidance, the program will connect them with the most suitable service. Individuals can be referred to services in West London by calling 0808 1962 386 or emailing worksupportwestlondon@shaw-trust.org.uk. A referral form is also available in the Public Reports Pack.
