PeoplePlus

💙 Carers Week 2026: Supporting Unpaid Carers at Home, in the Community, and in the Workplace

This , we recognise the millions of unpaid carers across the UK who provide essential support to family members, friends, and neighbours. Many people don’t identify themselves as carers but if someone relies on your help, you are not alone, and support is available.

Caring can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also bring challenges from stress and isolation to balancing work and personal responsibilities.

With around 1 in 7 employees also juggling unpaid care, employers have a vital role to play in creating supportive, flexible, and understanding workplaces.

✅ For carers:
Local support is available throughout the UK - https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/support-where-you-live.

✅ For employers:
Creating a carer-friendly workplace can make a real difference. Simple steps such as:
• Flexible working options
• Carers policies and leave
• Manager awareness and training
• Signposting to support services

These changes can improve employee wellbeing, retention, and productivity.

Carers Week is a reminder that recognising and supporting carers benefits not only individuals, but workplaces and communities too.

Our Carers Hub - Gloucestershire Carers Hub offer:

• Information and advice
• Emotional and peer support
• Training and wellbeing activities
• Opportunities to connect with other carers

During Carers Week, Gloucestershire Carers Hub is also bringing carers together through activities such as “Carer Cuppa and Cake in the Community” providing a welcoming space to take a break, meet others, and access support.

👉 Find out more: https://peopleplus.co.uk/newsitem/supporting-unpaid-carers-this-carers-week-2026

Supporting Unpaid Carers this Carers Week 2026 | PeoplePlus Carers Week 2026 is a national awareness campaign recognising the millions of unpaid carers across the UK who provide vital support to family members, friends,…

On World Art Day, we’re sharing Threads of Us - a creative exhibition shaped by learners at HMP Dumfries.

Over recent weeks, learners have been developing work across textiles, ceramics, poetry and visual art, bringing together different ideas and experiences into something shared.

We’ve taken a closer look at the exhibition and the thinking behind it here:
https://peopleplus.co.uk/newsitem/threads-of-us-a-creative-exhibition-at-hmp-dumfries

Here’s a glimpse of the work behind it.

Through our Jobs Growth Wales+ programme in Bargoed, Emmi-Leigh started as an Engagement learner and quickly progressed onto the Advancement Programme, gaining Employability and Personal Development qualifications that built her confidence, independence, and job-ready skills.

She embraced every opportunity to grow and develop, with consistent effort and a positive attitude. Along the way, she also achieved a huge personal milestone – passing her driving test!

Her hard work paid off when she secured a 12-week paid placement with one of Europe’s leading airlines, where she impressed throughout. She was then offered a permanent role – launching her career in aviation.

A fantastic achievement and a powerful reminder of what’s possible with the right opportunities and support. 🌟✈️

Read her full story here:
https://peopleplus.co.uk/newsitem/even-the-sky-isn-t-the-limit-for-jgw-advancement-learner-in-bargoed

Happy Easter.
Whether it’s time with family, friends, or your local community, weekends like this are a good reminder of what matters most day to day.
Hope you get a chance to enjoy it.

You’ve probably been in a meeting where someone missed part of the conversation.

Or asked for something to be repeated.

Or just went quiet.

It’s easy to move on without thinking much about it.

But for many people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, that’s not occasional, it's everyday and it often goes unnoticed.

On Tuesday 14 April (1–2pm), we’re hosting a SRAG Lunch and Learn with Action Deafness, the charity led by Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.

It’s an experience led, practical session looking at:
• what gets missed in day-to-day work
• what actually helps
• and how small changes can make work more accessible

If you manage people, recruit, or shape how work happens, this is a useful hour to consider the detail.

Email [email protected] for the joining details.

Every day is a struggle to communicate.
That’s what Kyle said at the start of Second Chapter, PeoplePlus’ storytelling-based literacy programme running across our prisons. Eight weeks later, he stood up and read his work aloud to the group. Something he said he would never have considered doing before.
Second Chapter takes a different approach to literacy. It starts with people’s own experiences and builds from there, using storytelling to develop reading, writing and confidence in a way that feels relevant and achievable.
Our article shares more about how the programme works, what the participants have said and our plans for expansion.

Second Chapter in Prisons | PeoplePlus Second Chapter: storytelling that changes how men engage with prison education Second Chapter is a literacy programme developed by PeoplePlus to address a pers…

Become a Personal Assistant (PA) and make a real difference to someone's life. We have lots of vacancies available in various locations and if there isn't a role that suits you now you can register on our PA Portal to be notified of when a suitable role in your area becomes available. To find out more visit: https://peopleplus.co.uk/personal-assistant-hub

Over 50 people came together in Cardiff to celebrate International Women’s Day earlier in the month with PeoplePlus Cymru and what an inspiring, empowering day it was!

We heard from an incredible line-up of speakers, each sharing powerful insights and personal journeys celebrating women in the workplace:

🔹 Kelly Reynolds, Director PeoplePlus Cymru, opened the event, setting the tone for the day and celebrating the impact and achievements of women in business.

🔹 Catherine Teehan, Director of Employability and Outreach at Cardiff University, shared the work being done to support individuals into education and employment, highlighting the importance of accessible opportunities and strong partnerships.

🔹 Lowri Evans owner of LB Dance Academy, spoke about her journey from discovering a love of dance at age three to performing all over the world, and how she’s now building her own business back in Cardiff.

🔹 Hannah Jenkins, Workforce Development Co-ordinator at Sacry, explored women in construction, sharing how her organisation is driving greater female representation in leadership and challenging industry norms.

🔹 Laura Abraham owner of The Grown Up School delivered an inspiring talk on her journey from struggling in education to building an award-winning business, reminding us all that you don’t need to be ‘ready’ to get started.

🔹 PeoplePlus young ambassadors shared how, through the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme, they are gaining hands-on experience across events, employer engagement and admin - building confidence, developing skills and preparing for their futures.

The day closed with a lively jobs fair, connecting attendees with employers across sectors including retail, construction and security.

A brilliant day focused on confidence, growth and opening doors 👏

👉 Read the full story here: https://peopleplus.co.uk/newsitem/empowering-women-across-wales-peopleplus-cymru-hosts-inspiring-international-women-s-day-event-in-cardiff

Getting back into work isn’t always straightforward - especially when you’re balancing childcare and trying to rebuild confidence.

With experience in retail and beauty, Whitney had the skills - she just needed the confidence, guidance and opportunity. Through the Restart Scheme with PeoplePlus in Tonbridge, she refreshed her CV, rebuilt her job search approach, and prepared for interviews with tailored support.

The result? A flexible role that works for her life and an employer who’s already seeing the impact.

It’s a reminder that behind every job outcome is a combination of potential, opportunity, and the right support system.

👉 Read Whitney’s full story here: https://peopleplus.co.uk/newsitem/back-to-work-back-to-herself-whitney-s-restart-scheme-story

Finding the Right Fit Around Family: Whitney’s Restart Scheme Journey | PeoplePlus Whitney joined the Restart Scheme at PeoplePlus several months ago after finding it challenging to secure work alongside her childcare responsibilities. Bringi…