A NEW employment support programme aimed at helping disabled people and those with health conditions find work is being rolled out across Wales.

The UK Government has confirmed that Mid Wales, North Wales and South West Wales will receive funding under the Connect to Work scheme, part of its wider Pathways to Work initiative designed to help people with complex barriers secure employment.

The announcement forms part of a £300 million expansion of the programme across England and Wales, which ministers say will provide tailored employment support to more than 75,000 people.

Under the plans, Mid Wales will receive up to £3.9 million to help around 1,000 people find work. North Wales will receive up to £13.3 million to support around 3,550 people, while South West Wales will receive up to £14.4 million to help approximately 3,850 residents.

The funding takes the total investment in the programme to more than £950 million. Funding for South East Wales is expected to be confirmed at a later date.

Connect to Work provides one-to-one employment support delivered in local community settings such as cafés, parks or community hubs. Participants are matched with employment advisers who help identify suitable roles, support job applications and work with employers to ensure appropriate workplace adjustments are made.

The UK Government says the programme aims to address economic inactivity linked to health conditions, with around 2.8 million people across the country currently out of work due to long-term illness.

Employment Minister Dame Diana Johnson said the initiative would give people who have been “written off and left behind” the support they need to move into secure work.

She said: “This government believes in the potential of every person in every part of the UK. Connect to Work gives people tailored support to move into good jobs and out of poverty.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the scheme could improve financial stability and quality of life for many people.

She said: “Providing targeted help for people to get into work means a more financially stable future and a better quality of life for many.

“The tailored support offered by Connect to Work services in Wales will ensure anyone who can work is supported to get the right job for them.”

The programme is being delivered locally through councils and partner organisations. A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association said councils are well placed to provide specialist employment support and link the scheme with other local services, including education, health and housing.

Connect to Work forms part of the UK Government’s wider £3.5 billion “Get Britain Working” package, which includes reforms to Jobcentres, new youth employment guarantees and expanded health-and-work programmes.

People who are out of work due to disability, health conditions or other complex barriers can access the scheme through self-referral or referrals from healthcare professionals, local authorities or voluntary organisations.

Thousands of people with disabilities and health conditions across South West Wales are set to receive personalised support to secure employment, thanks to a major expansion of specialist employment support.

New funding worth up to £14.4 million is being delivered to South West Wales as part of the Connect to Work programme, which helps break down barriers to opportunity. This comes as part of the Government’s £3.5 billion Get Britain Working package — the biggest investment in employment support for a generation — unlocking work and boosting living standards as part of the Plan for Change.

The announcement was made on Thursday, March 5, by the Department for Work and Pensions.

South West Wales will now receive up to £14.4 million to support up to 3,850 disabled people, people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to work with tailored employment support to find good, secure employment. This forms part of a total programme investment of over £950 million across England and Wales.

 The Minister for Employment, The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson said: “The government believes in the potential of every person in every part of the UK. That’s why I’m delighted to confirm funding for South West Wales. 

“For too long, too many people have been written off and left behind. But Connect to Work changes that by giving people real, tailored support to move into good jobs and out of poverty. That’s what spreading opportunity means in practice.” 

The programme’s support is designed to fit around the individual where participants can meet their employment adviser wherever they feel most comfortable.  It also provides intensive, personalised help including individual coaching from employment specialists, job matching services, and ongoing support for both participants and employers.

The Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, said: “Providing targeted help for people to get into work means a more financially stable future and a better quality of life for many. 

“The tailored support offered by Connect to Work services in Wales will ensure anyone who can work is supported to get the right job for them, helping them achieve their goals.” 

A CALL for approval for the use of Crymych industrial units as a golf simulator, child’s play space and a wellness centre offering a sauna, ice baths, and oxygen therapy has been submitted to county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr and Mrs Evans, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, seek a partly retrospective permission for the erection of commercial building containing three individual business units, at a former vacant storage yard at Parc Gwynfryn, Crymych.

A supporting statement says: “The building provides three sperate business spaces, two of the units are occupied, one as a golf simulator (7B 2) a second is occupied by a child’s role play and play space (7B 4) and the central unit (7B 3) is currently unoccupied, proposed to be let as a wellness centre.”

The site owners and applicants, Mr and Mrs Evans, are also the operators of the golf simulator enterprise and the original developers of the industrial estate, the statement says.

“The aim of the application is to regularise the existing building and existing and proposed uses. The building was substantially complete May 2025 and first occupied June 2025. Unit 7B2 is occupied by a golf simulator whereby users book slots online and self-serve.

“Unit 7B3 is currently unoccupied but would be occupied by wellness centre once planning permission is granted, consisting of sauna, ice baths, cryotherapy room, oxygen therapy etc. Unit 7B4 is occupied by a new enterprise which offers indoor roleplay space for children, Byd Bach.”

It adds: “In terms of the golf simulator, this is owner managed and the sites proximity to their main office within the site makes managing and attending the unit convenient and enables multiple businesses to be managed by the same members of staff.

“In terms of Byd Bach, this is operated by a local couple who also manage other premises in Crymych, amongst other employment. The site’s proximity to Crymych is therefore important and these arrangements are only successful given that the site is well-related to Crymych.

“The offering would not disrupt existing comparable provision, the closest facility of this kind being in St Clears, well beyond the catchment of this facility.

“The third unit is not yet occupied but would be operated by a local spinal injury sufferer, and athlete, who would benefit from the facilities themselves and offer therapy for others.”

Citing a recently-approved change on use of a building on the industrial site itself to a Hair and Beauty Salon, it said it was considered the development would not have a significant detrimental effect on the overall supply of business units or land in Pembrokeshire or Crymych.

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.