Funding boost for Working Well programme set to help over 7,000 more into work in Greater Manchester

The Department for Work and Pensions has invested a further £12.4 million into a local programme to support more people into work in Greater Manchester.

The additional funds for the Working Well Work and Health programme over the coming two years will enable a further 7,375 receive support to enter employment. The scheme targets people who may be facing complex barriers to securing work, and offers support for a further six months after applicants are successful in finding a job.

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council and Greater Manchester’s lead for Work and Skills, said: 

“The Working Well family of services has been one of the great successes of our unique devolution deal here in Greater Manchester.

“Having local control over funding for skills and health puts us in the best possible position to work with people here, identify the issues they might be facing, and offer tailored support to help them get on in life.

“Good work is good for people’s health. It’s also clearly good for our economy and good for communities. I’m pleased that we have been able to agree this contract extension and that thousands more people will benefit and be helped into work as a result.”

The Working Well programme was established following Greater Manchester’s 2014 devolution deal, which gave the city-region additional powers to run its own skills and employment support initiatives. Among the other ways the city-region has used its devolved powers over employment support include only considering jobs paying the Real Living Wage or above when measuring the success of schemes, and integrating programmes with health and housing support, with over 100,000 referrals over the past four years.

Among the people helped into work through the Working Well programme are Sophie Teal, who was supported to overcome her anxiety and land a job as a software engineer.

Despite graduating with a degree in software engineering, her anxiety meant she struggled to leave the house or work with others in an office. She was referred for support and was allocated a coach who suggested she attend a three-month training course that taught her work and life skills, how to interact with colleagues and achieve work targets. This built Sophie’s confidence and on completion she was offered two job opportunities. Her coach supported her in talking through the choice she faced so Sophie had confidence in making the right decision.

On her first day, when trying to fight off a panic attack, Sophie’s coach provided her with the assurance she needed to get to work. Sophie said:

“I am now a few weeks into my new job; I am getting along well with my co-workers, am beginning to feel comfortable in an office environment, and even attended a work-related social outing.

“I cannot stress enough how much I have grown over the last few months with the support of my coach, and I will never forget the impact that the Work and Health Programme has had on my life and career.”