Unemployed residents in Croydon will be supported into work with the South London Partnership’s new Connect to Work employment programme.
Connect to Work is a voluntary programme to help people who need support the most, such as those with health conditions, by connecting them to the local resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, it has been designed to build closer links between key sectors, including the NHS, businesses and social care, to tackle unemployment, and will connect local work, health and skills support.
Croydon will lead the programme on behalf of the South London Partnership and will be responsible for its day-to-day management.
Connect to Work reinforces the success of previous programmes in Croydon to help residents into work, including the Pioneer Programme which is part of the Work and Health Programme. Croydon resident Moumita Dutta, 36, attended the Pioneer Programme last year. She praised the help she received in improving her CV and the hands-on support, which helped her successfully find employment this year.
The delivery of Connect to Work will start later this year, with the scheme lasting an initial three years with scope to extend for a further two years. It directly supports Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s priority to support the local economy and residents to upskill and access job opportunities. This is part of the drive to ensure Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning, as set out the Mayor’s Business Plan 2022-26.
The South London Partnership is a sub-regional collaboration of the five London boroughs of Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton. Working together and with partners in and beyond the area, the South London Partnership builds on the strengths of south London as a place for people to live, work and thrive.
“We are looking forward to delivering this new programme and to offer practical and positive help to get more people into secure and suitable jobs. We’re pleased that the programme will support up to 1,400 South London Partnership residents per year, and 50% of these will be our residents.
“We will take a collaborative, locally-led approach to help connect local work, health and skills support. This will create a holistic, joined up approach to maximise the benefits for people as well as communities.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
Sarah Ireland, Chief Executive of Royal Borough of Kingston and South London Partnership Lead for Employment and Skills, said: “We are excited to be launching the tender for South London Connect to Work, our new supported employment programme, developed to build tailored pathways into good jobs for south Londoners, and create inclusive working environments where everyone can thrive professionally.
“This programme will not only help people find good jobs, but it will help our businesses access a more diverse talent pipeline, equipped with the skills to help our economy prosper and grow.”
