Work, health and skills – Trailblazer and Accelerator update

Thank you to all the organisations that have highlighted programs currently running that link to the broad remit of helping to get people closer to work. Please continue to share your thoughts and ideas as Forum Central continue’s to advocate for the VCSE sector’s involvement in the initiatives.

We are pleased that this new injection of funding will be looking to support people that are often excluded, as they can seem harder to support to be closer to work as they face multiple barriers.

Please do not hesitate to send through information about programs that have been effective and are currently at risk,  due to funding ending. We are pushing for assurances that these programs will be prioritised.

A significant investment will be going into our sector via the West Yorkshire Trailblazer program. There is approximately £750,000 to be spent in April 2025 to March 2026. This is in addition to the money coming in via the Accelerator program that is being managed by the ICB. The Trailblazer outcomes are likely to include;

• Increased employment rate
• More people with long-term illness/disability in good work
• Reduced employment rate gap for people with long-term illness/disability
• Increased economic activity rate
• Fewer people economically inactive due to long-term illness/disability
• Lower unemployment rate and claimant unemployment rate
• Narrowing of unemployment rate gap for people with long-term illness/disability
• More employers offering supportive and accessible workplaces
• More resilient and secure VCSE sector
• Partnership working that enables a strong, joined-up local work, health, and skills offer

We will share details as we have them, but this is an exciting time for Leeds and a real recognition of the value of the third sector working with and supporting people.

Forum Central is connected to the work of the steering group and is advocating for strong third sector involvement as developments progress.