April 2026 This monthly e-shot shares the latest information on Communities that Work, highlights some of our members' outstanding work, and keeps you informed about upcoming events. This edition can report excellent news following Ministerial approval of further support to JobsPlus pilots, as we seek to build more JobsPlus 2.0 sites this year. Our Spotlight shines a light on some of the brilliant work led by Peabody, a CtW member deeply committed to social purpose, and showing real leadership in this as Chair of the G15 in London.
JobsPlus funding update |
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a further year of funding for the Jobs Plus pilots, recognising their strong early success in engaging communities facing barriers to employment.
With around one in four economically inactive people in the UK living in social housing, the programme is a key part of DWP's wider Pathways to Work approach, supporting disabled people and those with health conditions into sustainable employment.
The extension will enable Jobs Plus sites to build on the positive progress already made and continue delivering place-based employment support that connects residents to opportunities, skills, and local services. By maintaining momentum, the programme aims to reach even more people and support lasting improvements in employment outcomes within social housing communities. |
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JobsPlus Barnet showcase
This month, we hosted a showcase event at Jobs Plus Barnet for a valuable discussion on community-led approaches to employment and skills. The session brought together local partners and stakeholders, as well as the Resolution Foundation, to explore how place-based collaboration, community insight, and strong local partnerships can shape more effective employment support for residents.
We want to extend a big thank you to the Barnet team for hosting and welcoming us, and to everyone who contributed to the discussion and shared their perspectives.
Conversations like these are vital as we continue to champion inclusive, locally driven employment initiatives that respond to community needs and support more people into work.
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We welcome the excellent Peabody into the spotlight this month. Their work covers a broad range of community support, delivered in the heart of their neighbourhoods. In this spotlight, we focus on just one initiative, but one so key to the future – supporting young people to gain work experience and opportunities, and to establish career pathways and new futures.
If you're interested in supporting Peabody in this scheme, they call for your interest below!
Peabody LaunchPad: Skills for today, confidence for tomorrow
We're one of the oldest and largest not-for-profit housing associations in the UK. We support over 109,000 homes across London and the Home Counties, and our focus is simple: creating places where people can live well and feel part of their community.
Our work experience programme, Social Housing LaunchPad, is changing how we connect with young people and open up career opportunities in housing. Designed for 16-18-year-olds living in or near neighbourhoods with social homes, it helps young people see housing as a place where they can build a future and make a difference.
Through a two-week work experience placement, including one week paid, participants explore different roles, build practical skills, and work on real projects that improve services for residents. The programme brings together gamified learning, interactive workshops, site visits, and sessions on topics like sustainability, AI, and public speaking. |
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Photo credit: davidmiko.co.uk
We shape every session around what helps young people feel confident and ready for work. That means focusing on skills like communication, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership, while giving young people space to build on their own strengths.
We use interactive, accessible ways of learning so everyone can take part - especially those who may not have felt supported in more traditional settings. This approach helps build confidence, resilience, and a sense of readiness for what comes next.
Many people don't set out to work in housing, and it's not always seen as an obvious career choice. But LaunchPad is helping to change that. Every participant told us their view of the housing sector had changed for the better, and all said opportunities like this should be more widely available. One participant put it simply: "No one grows up thinking... 'I want to work in social housing'. But working in social housing should be aspirational, because it changes lives."
We see firsthand what happens when young people are given time, support, and real opportunities to grow. They bring ideas, energy, and a fresh perspective that strengthens our communities.
LaunchPad is one way we're investing in that future - by creating space for young people to learn, contribute, and feel that they belong.
We're always keen to work with others who want to create more opportunities like this -whether that's offering placements, sharing skills, or shaping what comes next together.
So if you're interested, please do get in touch. Contact Evelina Sredovska at Peabody, email her here. |
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News from the Government, Westminster and environs |
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Seven new towns proposed to kickstart housebuilding push, 22 March
The government has proposed seven new towns across England as part of what it describes as the most ambitious housebuilding programme in over 50 years, aiming to significantly boost housing supply. Each site is expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes to create large, well-planned communities with jobs, schools, transport links, and green spaces built in from the outset. The developments, located in areas including Bedfordshire, London, Greater Manchester and Milton Keynes, are designed to be modern, well-connected, and less car-dependent, supporting long-term economic growth while helping to address the UK's housing shortage.
Major boost for young people with 80 new Youth Hubs as SPFL Trust partners with DWP, 25 March
The government has announced a major expansion of its Youth Hubs programme, with 80 new centres being rolled out across Great Britain to help young people aged 16-24 into work. Delivered in partnership with organisations including the Scottish Professional Football League Trust, the hubs bring together jobcentre support, training providers, employers, and services like mental health and housing advice in one place. The initiative aims to tackle the rise in young people not in education, employment or training by creating a nationwide network of support, connecting young people directly with jobs, skills, and opportunities in their local communities.
£70m funding to address building safety professional shortages, 26 March
The government has announced £70 million in funding to tackle shortages in key building safety roles, particularly building inspectors and fire engineers, which have been limiting housing delivery and were highlighted after the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The three-year programme aims to train up to 700 new inspectors, upskill existing professionals, and expand fire engineering education through bursaries and research investment. By boosting workforce capacity, the reforms are intended to improve safety standards while helping accelerate the delivery of up to 1.5 million new homes.
Support for Keep Britain Working ramps up across employers and regions, 31 March.
The government has expanded its Keep Britain Working initiative, with over 150 organisations, major employers, and regional authorities now involved in tackling rising economic inactivity caused by ill health. The programme focuses on improving workplace health by promoting early intervention, better support for disabled employees, and helping people stay in or return to work, alongside developing a new national standard for healthy working practices. With around 2.8 million people currently out of work due to long-term sickness, the initiative aims to reduce this number by embedding healthier, more inclusive working environments and strengthening collaboration between government, businesses, and local leaders.
Thousands to be supported into work as government reforms the welfare system, 6 April
The UK government has announced welfare reforms aimed at helping more sick and disabled people into work while reducing long-term benefit dependency. The changes include offering voluntary employment support to hundreds of thousands of people and investing £3.5 billion in tailored help, while also lowering the Universal Credit health payment for new claimants to reduce "disincentives" to work. Existing claimants and those with severe conditions are protected, and the reforms are expected to save around £1 billion, with the overall goal of encouraging employment and making the system more sustainable for taxpayers.
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The London Housing Summit 2026
Centre for London, 21 April Through presentations, panel discussions and interactive workshops, this event will explore how public, private and civil society organisations can work in partnership to overcome the high land costs and skills shortages that are getting in the way of building the homes London needs. It will also explore how London's housing system can better meet Londoners' needs, tackling issues from overcrowding and underoccupancy through to homelessness.
The National Retrofit Conference & Expo 2026
Excel, London, 12-14 May
The UK's leading event dedicated to tackling the retrofit challenge. Co-located with Futurebuild at Excel London, it puts retrofit at the heart of the net-zero conversation. Curated by The Retrofit Academy CIC, the event unites local authorities, housing providers, contractors, and industry leaders to accelerate large-scale building decarbonisation. Featuring expert-led talks, practical insights, and cutting-edge solutions, it's the go-to platform for learning, collaboration, and driving real progress on net-zero retrofit.
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