Better Connect

Together we can make Yorkshire a place where every person can thrive in their life and work

04/11/2026

e50K are one of 33 organisations we’re partnering with on Trailblazer Community Grants to deliver innovative, first-steps employment support.

Through their grant, they’re delivering Rooted at Bramble Woods - an outdoor employability project designed to help economically inactive members of the Armed Forces community move closer to work.

Delivered at Bramble Woods in Catterick, this seven-month pilot combines hands-on horticulture and beekeeping with targeted one-to-one support, work-readiness training and supported volunteering.

Designed to build confidence, tackle isolation, and improve wellbeing, we’re excited to see how the project takes root!

For more on our grants scheme and the projects we’re piloting, head to the comments below.

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority North Yorkshire Council

03/11/2026

We do employment support a little differently at Better Connect 🧩

Here's how:

👉 We work primarily with trusted VCSE organisations that know their communities inside out.
👉We bring organisations together to build large-scale partnerships.
👉We champion a holistic, person-centred approach that responds to people’s individual circumstances.

For more on who we are, what we do and the difference we're making across York and North Yorkshire, follow along!

29/10/2026

“It’s really person-centred, it’s really individual. We’ve worked on all kinds of things for the service users.”

What does person-centred employment support look like in practice?

Today, we’re hearing from Better Connect partner about the value of a person-centred approach to employment and what that really means for their participants, from work-readiness to finding belonging.

From drama and ukelele lessons to support with job-searching and interviews, being part of the Rise2Thrive partnership gives Keyworkers Sally and Gemma the flexibility to meet participants where they are, wherever they are – and participants a springboard to move forward with their lives, whatever that looks like.

Together, our Rise2Thrive partnership is paving a new path for what employment support can and should look like for those furthest from the labour market.

27/10/2026

£7m+ invested. 70 community organisations. 2,669 people supported 🌟🌟🌟

Since May 2025, we’ve secured and managed over £7m in Trailblazer funding across three key programmes: Rise2Thrive, Community Grants and LEAP.

By partnering with trusted, locally embedded VCSEs and community organisations, we’re delivering support that responds directly to the needs of people and place.

In just 18 months, these three programmes have collectively supported 2,669 people facing significant barriers to the labour market, with 1,772 progressing into employment, education, training, job-search, volunteering or work experience, and hundreds more reporting improved confidence, wellbeing and work-related skills.

By bringing together local investment, local expertise and VCSE-led partnerships, we’re changing lives, supporting local economies and building healthy, thriving communities.

Thank you to our funders, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and North Yorkshire Council, and each of our delivery partners for helping us realise positive regional change.

23/10/2026

Great to see our team representing Rise2Thrive and LEAP at today’s Work, Health and Skills Forum, hosted by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority 🙌

Together, these two programmes have supported just over 1,500 people across York and North Yorkshire since May 2025 alone.

Forums like these are an important opportunity to share learning and successes, strengthen partnerships and collaboration, and ensure the experiences of the people and organisations delivering employment support help shape the wider conversation around work, health and skills across our region.

It was particularly great to hear from panellists Dr Beth Lane and Sally Haslewood's Sally Haslewood on the impact of Rise2Thrive and LEAP, and the role they’re playing in driving positive change for local people.

21/10/2026

Futureworks NY are changing young lives in Scarborough 🌊

A long-standing partner across our employability and skills programmes, we’ve worked with Futureworks for well over a decade on programmes like Rise2Thrive and Step Up.

So, when the opportunity arose to capture their story through our productions service – from their origins and impact to the challenges they’re facing in the current funding landscape – we jumped at the chance.

We had a brilliant day at their base seeing the vital support they deliver on the daily, and meeting the young people at the heart of everything they do.

For more on who they are, what they do, and just how you can support their mission, search Futureworks NY 🔍

16/10/2026

Place-based, person-centred support changes lives.

Since May last year, our Rise2Thrive Trailblazer programme has supported almost 2000 people across York and North Yorkshire.

By leading and partnering with 35 trusted VCSE organisations, we’ve made it possible for hundreds of people to move towards job-search, education, training, and employment they can sustain.

For many, this support is life-changing.

But don’t just take our word for it. Hear it from our participants themselves.

Together, we’re transforming lives. Help us spread the word.

Funded by the UK Government and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

GetBritainWorking

08/10/2026

A couple of the team are at the IEP’s 2026 Basecamp event in Nottingham today!

Joining hundreds of employability professionals from across the sector, Basecamp is sparking some key conversations about how we can deliver better outcomes for the people we support.

So far, we've heard some fantastic talks on everything from reimagining employability and improving employment pathways, to the role of AI in reducing the administrative load of frontline delivery.

A great opportunity to share learning from across the sector, challenge our thinking and bring new ideas back to our own patch.

Huge thanks to The IEP for hosting, and to the event sponsors for bringing the sector together 🧩🤝✨

22/09/2026

Last week, we met Florian and Brandon 🎥

Two Malton residents taking part in LEAP, a wage subsidy scheme delivered by Better Connect and North Yorkshire Council, supporting adults aged 18+ into valuable paid work placements with local employers.

Six months ago, LEAP helped Brandon secure a fully funded placement with renowned local pastry chef, business owner (and local celeb) UK Pastry Champion - French Pastry Consultant.

Fast forward six months, and Brandon has mastered the macaron, developed valuable workplace skills, and can now navigate a full 8-hour shift, an unimaginable feat at the beginning of his placement.

For Florian, the placement has meant an extra pair of hands, while giving a young person the opportunity to build confidence, skills and experience without the financial pressure of onboarding.

🎬 Stay tuned, we can’t wait to share more of their story!

10/09/2026

Why involve our sector in regional policy and practice? 🤝

For Natasha Babar-Evans, the answer lies in three things: our resilience, our entrepreneurial spirit, and our ability to drive widespread social and economic value.

Our communities are navigating a rapidly changing social and economic landscape, and when needs change, the VCSE sector responds.

In episode four of this YNYCA commissioned VCSE Engagement Day series, we chat to Better Connect CEO about the value VCSEs bring to shaping thriving local communities, and economies.

Join us next week for the penultimate episode in our series, where we’ll be hearing from Up For Yorkshire
Chris Hailey Norris. 🎥✨

Natasha Babar-Evans

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