New funding for Connect to Work will help 3,400 Hull and East Yorkshire residents into secure jobs.
Mayor Luke Campbell MBE has welcomed £11.7 million in new funding to help thousands of residents across Hull and East Yorkshire move into good, secure jobs.
The funding for the Connect to Work programme will provide tailored employment support for up to 3,400 disabled people, people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to work.
Through the Mayoral Investment Fund, £200,000 has also been committed to help cover transport costs for people who secure employment through the programme. This will be provided in advance of participants receiving their first salary, helping remove one of the practical barriers to starting work.
Across the region, an estimated 71,800 residents are currently out of work, with significantly more people citing long-term sickness as the main barrier to employment compared with the national average.
Luke Campbell MBE, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, said:
“This is great news for Hull and East Yorkshire, and for the people who will benefit from Connect to Work.
“We know that giving people personalised support to find work or stay in work can positively change people’s lives. Being in work gives people structure, confidence and independence.
“I’m excited to give residents more people get practical support and take steps towards employment in a way that’s right for them.”
Reducing economic inactivity and improving coordination between employment and health services is a core priority for the Combined Authority.
The Connect to Work programme forms a key part of this approach and aligns with the Get Hull and East Yorkshire Working Plan, the Local Growth Plan and the Skills and Work Strategy.
The programme's support is designed to fit around the individual. It provides intensive, personalised help – breaking down the barriers that can make accessing traditional employment support feel daunting.