Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has launched a new scheme to provide bespoke, enhanced employment support for some of its most vulnerable residents.
Connect to Work is a UK government initiative that will be delivered locally by the Council’s Work and Skills team, which already provides far-reaching employment support for residents aged 16+.
It will provide ongoing support via specialist coaches to people who face significant barriers or challenges to either finding work or maintaining work.
It is hoped over 2,000 residents could benefit. This could include:
- Those with disabilities
- Those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Former veterans
- Domestic abuse survivors
- Carers
- Care experienced people
- Former offenders
- Refugees
Local employers will be key to the success of the scheme, offering job opportunities that will not only make a real difference to the lives of people, but will also support workforce diversity and resilience and enable their business to be involved in a flagship equality movement.
All placements and support offered via Connect to Work will be delivered by the Work and Skills team in line with Supported Employment Quality and the Individual Placement and Support frameworks.
Running concurrently with Connect to Work will be the Welsh Governement-funded Trailblazers initiative, which offers funding for innovative new approaches to helping people not only find work, but overcome the personal, physical and emotional barriers that can affect their chances of success.
Initiatives being considered include working with the Council’s dedicated Youth Engagement and Participation Service to provide employability workshops for young people and and the Council’s Leisure for Life service to offer community-based or virtual interventions to help people improve their physical and mental wellbeing to prepare them for employment.
Cllr Scott Emanuel, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure, said: “Residents in our county borough can face a range of barriers and challenges when it comes to not only starting and maintaining employment, but also being in a position to look for work in the first place.
“Disability, health, confidence and personal circumstances all contribute to where a person is when it comes to making those first steps.
“Connect to Work and Trailblazers will, between them, allow our dedicated Work and Skills Team to further expand its remit and work intensively and innovatively with residents to help them to overcome the barriers they may face – and stay in work.
“Both schemes will be rolled out with the support of partners, including local businesses and employers and we look forward to sharing progress as the schemes roll out.”
Both schemes remain in their very early stages, but residents and businesses interested in getting involved are urged to follow the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Work and Skills Team on Facebook to find out more and get the latest news and updates.
The Work and Skills Team also offers:
- One to one employment mentoring to help you upskill, develop your CV, improve interview skills and support you with barriers to employment, such as transport, clothing or childcare
- A huge range of training courses and skills sessions, many of which result in an accreditation or qualification for those who complete them successfully. These can be used to add to your CV, aide your job search or upskill employees.
- Support and information on how to use volunteering to gain skills and experience ready for employment.
- Work with businesses to identify skills and training needs and support employee recruitment and development.
- Bespoke training and qualification sessions running in line with recruitment drives, such as teaching assistants, school catering staff and cleaning staff with guaranteed interviews for successful participants.
Find out more about Connect to Work and apply here.
Posted on 28/10/2026