Putting lived experience at the heart of employment support
People with lived experience of health-related and wider barriers to employment came together in Swindon to help shape the future of employment support.
On 29 July 2026, participants joined our People Panel co-design workshop at the Swindon office, sharing their experiences of unemployment, previous employment support and the barriers they have faced when trying to return to work.
Their insight will directly inform the design of our Pathways Innovation Fund proposal and other initiatives, helping ensure future support reflects what people genuinely need.
Listening first, designing together
Rather than asking participants to comment on a finished service, the workshop focused on listening first. Based on their personal experience, participants shared what they felt good employment support should look like and what could make a real difference to people facing barriers to work.
The group brought a wide range of lived experience, including long-term physical health conditions, stroke recovery, mental health challenges, speech and confidence barriers, redundancy following Covid and age-related barriers. Many participants also had more than 20 or 30 years of work experience.
What people told us
Employment support should restore hope
Participants spoke about how repeated rejection can affect confidence, sometimes more than capability.
The group also highlighted the importance of being seen as more than a CV. Participants want employers to recognise their transferable skills, life experience and potential, while receiving meaningful feedback when applications are unsuccessful.
I never thought I was going to get anything, but now I have hope that I can have a chance.
Participant from our workshop
Personalised support needs to go beyond job searching
Participants identified several areas where practical support could help people move towards employment and improve their wellbeing.
These included:
- Confidence and wellbeing: health checks, physical activity, mental wellbeing support and confidence coaching.
- Social connection: buddy systems, relaxed peer support sessions, book and fishing clubs, coffee mornings and informal community activities.
- Digital inclusion: support with online job searching, AI, digital skills, Wi-Fi and using technology safely and confidently.
- Skills and training: tailor-made courses, internships, employer-linked vacancies, local colleges and a wider training offer.
- Financial support: travel funding, debt advice, food banks, benefit calculations (from an early stage) and guidance on whether work will leave people financially better off.
Participants also highlighted ageism and AI-driven recruitment processes as barriers, particularly for older people with significant experience that they felt was disregarded.
Building support around people’s lives
The workshop showed that health and employment are closely connected. Participants described how work can improve wellbeing, routine and confidence, but also highlighted the need for support to help bridge the gap between where they are now and employment.
Weekly support was generally welcomed, alongside a flexible mix of one-to-one and group support depending on individual needs.
Turning lived experience into action
The workshop reinforced that effective employment support must go beyond job searching. People want support that builds confidence, strengthens social connections, improves digital inclusion and provides practical help with finances and wellbeing.
These insights will directly inform the Pathways Innovation Fund proposal, ensuring the design is shaped by the people it aims to support.
By listening to lived experience from the outset, we can help create employment support that is more personalised, practical and responsive to what people genuinely need.
