A major programme to help people in York and North Yorkshire with health conditions return to work has begun.
As announced by the government, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been chosen as one of eight areas to lead a Get Britain Working Inactivity Trailblazer. A £10 million, 12-month programme has been developed, which will build on work already taking place in the region and test new ideas.
The programme aims to help 1,500 people seeking work, 500 people already in work who need support and 150 businesses.
On Tuesday (13), Mayor David Skaith met staff from the programme’s first commissioned service, called Rise2Thrive. The service is overseen by Knaresborough-based not-for-profit organisation, Better Connect.
In York and North Yorkshire, the number of people not working due to long-term sickness rose between 2019 and 2024 by 72.2%, above the national average. There are also more than 150,000 people in work with long-term conditions, who may need support.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “I’m delighted to see this programme start, tackling these challenges and helping to create healthy and thriving communities. Government has put their confidence in us to test new ways of working and our strong partnerships and appetite for innovation will deliver for people across the region, as well as help shape direction at a national level.”