Vol. 8 | 18/12/2025

Introduction from Helen Radcliffe

Hi everyone, thank you for all your very hard work over the past couple of months. The UKSPF teams have already exceeded the outputs targets for the whole programme which is fantastic news.

The Pre and Post 16 teams have been inundated with young people and are pulling out all the stops to support them.

DurhamEnable started Connect to Work delivery in October and played a key role in shaping the delivery across the NECA area, alongside winning a national innovation award.

The DurhamLearn teams have been focussing on adapting and developing learning to meet the very varied needs of our adult learners, SEND young people and apprentices and they are currently reviewing what the new Ofsted framework will mean for us.

The Central Team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to maximise the funding, bring new delivery providers into the programmes and keep all the admin. flowing. On top of all that, we had a great night at the DCC Awards with two Wins and a Highly Commended.

I hope you all have a lovely, relaxing Christmas with family and friends and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

The following showcases what’s been happening across DurhamEnable, DurhamWorks, and DurhamLearn

DurhamEnable

DurhamEnable team brings fresh energy from BASE Conference at Wembley

In November, the DurhamEnable team attended the BASE Conference 2025 at the iconic Wembley Stadium. Representing DurhamEnable were Ramsay Taylor, Mel Kearney, Bambi French, Nick Liversedge, Laura Crane, and Megan Welton.

DurhamEnable didn’t just attend, they led inspiring and impactful conversations over an eventful two-day programme.

The conference proved to be a source of energy and inspiration for the DurhamEnable team. It reinforced the importance of collaboration, innovation, and quality in shaping better futures for their jobseekers.

Looking ahead, the insights gained will power DurhamEnable’s Connect to Work programme, which aims to create stronger employer partnerships and deliver tailored, high-quality support across County Durham. The initiative will help more people access sustainable employment and thrive in their careers.

DurhamEnable’s Bambi French wins Innovation Award at Wembley Stadium

We are thrilled to announce that Bambi French, Team Leader at DurhamEnable, has been honoured with the Innovation Award at the BASE Supported Employment Practice Awards 2025, held at the iconic Wembley Stadium

Since joining DurhamEnable, Bambi has demonstrated exceptional creativity and leadership, driving forward new ideas that have transformed the way we support people into employment. Her achievements include:

Launching the Voices of Supported Employment podcast, giving a platform to share stories, best practices, and insights from across the sector.

Embedding reflective practice within the team, ensuring Supported Employment practitioners have dedicated time to learn, adapt, and continuously improve the quality of support we provide.

Connect to Work officially launches in County Durham

We’re excited to announce that Connect to Work officially began delivery across County Durham on 1 October. and what a fantastic start it’s been! In just the first month:

• 36 people registered on the programme
• Seven individuals have already secured employment through our support.

This strong beginning sets the tone for what’s ahead as recruitment ramps up in preparation for expanding delivery from April 2026. 

Partnership work with Triage, who are delivering the IPS element under Connect to Work, has also begun strongly. We look forward to building on this new and exciting collaboration between our services to provide even greater support for jobseekers and employers.

Meet the Connect to Work team making this happen:
Team Leader – Mel Kearney
Job Coaches – Laura Crane, Deborah Gardner, James Dowson, Emma Corr, Richard Holmes
Triage Advisors – Isabelle Dawes and Wendy Hood
Programme Support Officer – Charlette Taylor

The Connect to Work programme is designed to create meaningful employment opportunities and provide tailored support for jobseekers across the county. With such a strong start, we’re excited about the impact this initiative will have for individuals and employers alike.

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DurhamWorks

Anna’s story: building skills, confidence, and a career in construction

At just 17, Anna Dobson joined SMARTT’s “Get Into Construction” programme with a clear goal in mind: to gain her CSCS card and begin building a future in the construction industry. Having been out of formal education for several years, Anna was looking for a place where should could rebuild her confidence and take her next steps at her own pace.

The SMARTT programme provided exactly that. For Anna, the informal friendly environment made a big difference. Anna experiences anxiety, struggles with confidence, and has limited social interaction experience – all of which had previously held her back from education and employment opportunities. But on this course, Anna found the support she needed. She began contributing to group work, made new friends, and asked for help when she needed it. Her tutors also saw significant improvements in her attendance, punctuality, and ability to manage challenging moments, such as panic attacks.

Her progression worker, Hannah McElrue, has supported Anna since December 2023 and witnessed her growth first-hand:

The journey she’s been on over the past two years has been truly inspiring. Throughout this time, Anna has shown remarkable growth, development, and a boost in confidence… she made the brave and determined decision to re-engage and commit to the course. Her dedication paid off—passing her CSCS test and gaining the qualification is a huge achievement, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.

The course marks a major milestone for Anna. Not only did she complete the full programme, but she also passed every qualification making this the first time she has ever passed an exam or completed a full course. These achievements have transformed her outlook, giving her the confidence to step into more formal learning and explore career opportunities in construction.

Anna says:

’I did the SMARTT course and it really good, the tutors were helpful and supportive – they were a right laugh too. It brought out my confidence and I managed to do the full course and pass my CSCS test and other qualifications. I would definitely do more courses with Barry. DurhamWorks has helped me a lot and given me opportunities I wouldn’t of been able to find myself. Hannah is very supportive and I like working with her, please can she be cloned!’’

With her new qualifications and CSCS card in hand, Anna is now ready for the next stage of her journey. She has been referred for sessional employment and has even been asked to take part in a feedback panel about support for young people in care.

Her future in the construction industry has only just begun, and all of us at DurhamWorks are incredibly proud of her progress.

Liam Pritchard’s journey with DurhamWorks

Liam Pritchard was looking for a vacancy as a farm hand, with the support of DurhamWorks he managed to secure an interview, and then a work trial at Sprucely Farm in Sedgefield

Michele Atkinson, an Employer Engagement Officer at DurhamWorks, first met Liam in June 2025. Liam had registered with the service with the aim of getting help fining employment. It was Liam’s ambition to work on a farm, but they also investigated and then applied for an agriculture course at Houghall College.

As Liam didn’t have a CV, he and Michele worked on one together. They also looked at online courses that could enhance his chances of finding employment, including a First Aid at Work course.

Michele started to contact local farms to see if there was any vacancies available; this is where Michele met Matthew Harris of Sprucely Farm. The conversation with Matthew as overwhelmingly positive and he called Michele back the following day with his decision to take Liam onboard on the condition he achieve his tractor licence.

DurhamWorks have been supporting Liam by arranging driving lessons using the Flex-Fund to help him pass his driving test. Speaking about his experience with DurhamWorks, Liam said,   

I received so much support and guidance from Michele at DurhamWorks, all of which helped me find employment. I always wanted to work on a farm and DurhamWorks gave me the chance to achieve this ambition with Matthew at Sprucely Farm, and I am really enjoying the opportunity.

Matthew added,

Liam has been a fantastic addition to the team at Sprucely Farm. I would recommend any business in County Durham looking for a new member of staff to contact DurhamWorks. They prepared Liam so well for work and continue to support him now that he has started working here.

Feedback Fortnight is a huge success

Feedback Fortnight gives individuals currently engaging with DurhamWorks a 14-day window to complete a survey, co-designed by the DurhamWorks Youth Forums, which asks questions around their experience with the service.

Key findings this year include:

• The majority of young people rated their experience working with DurhamWorks highly with an average rating of 9.1/10.
• DurhamWorks has increased the confidence and self-belief of many of the young people on the service.
• The Outcome Star assessment tool is seen to be useful by the young people, with some feedback informing future development in how they are used.
• The Step-Up sessions were often mentioned to be a service highlight for the young people who attended them.
• Young people are grateful for the additional support that is offered around transitionary periods as they move into employment, education, or training.
• Both young people and parents/ carers would like an increased focus on improving personals skills, and offering work experience opportunities and further education/ workplace visits in the future.

A massive thank you to all DurhamWorks staff who promoted the survey to the young people they work with, as well as their parents/ carers! For more details on the findings of Feedback Fortnight, please contact David Curry (david.curry3@durham.gov.uk | 07880 044669) from the DurhamWorks Quality team.

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DurhamLearn

Disability Staff Network – Join our growing community

The Disability Staff Network is a friendly and supportive group that brings colleagues together to share experiences, influence change, and improve the working environment for disabled staff across the council. The group meets four times a year and are continuing to grow, welcoming anyone who wants to get involved. The network is chaired by Mark Colman, with support from Paula Foster-Short.

Over the past 12 months, the group has been busy driving positive change, including:

• Contributing to the New Ways of Working initiative and reviewing HR policies
• Developing a Buddy System to support disabled staff, both new starters and existing employees
• Reviewing staff training courses before launch
• Providing input on major council developments such as Rivergreen and The Story
• Taking part in Lumiere preview access to assess facilities and ensure an inclusive experience
• Offering members confidential advice and support via Teams, in person, or by phone

If you’d like to be part of a welcoming network where your voice can make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. If you’re interesting in joining, please email equalities@durham.gov.uk