PeoplePlus

Fresh Start is a programme we deliver in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, supporting people who have been touched by the justice system to move into lasting employment.

Programmes like this don't just change their own lives. They benefit families, communities and society as a whole, reducing reoffending and giving people a genuine stake in the future they're building.

Like this person......

He came to Fresh Start with previous convictions standing between him and steady work, and low expectations of how much support he'd actually get.

Working one-to-one with a key worker, he built his CV, sharpened his interview skills, and learned how to manage disclosure with employers instead of letting it hold him back.

The support didn't stop when he got the job. Fresh Start helped with travel costs in his first week, stayed in touch through his early days at work, and helped him get to grips with budgeting his new income.

Today, he's in full-time work, his confidence transformed, with driving lessons booked and his own flat firmly in sight.

He's since recommended Fresh Start to others facing the same barriers he did.

Read his full story here:

A Fresh Start | PeoplePlus Helping people move on from the justice system and into sustainable employment doesn't just change their own lives. It benefits families, communities and socie…

£120. That's what the after-school club cost, three days a week, for Aisha's youngest.

£100. That's what the job would have brought in, after tax and the Universal Credit she'd lose.

The job itself was a good one. Admin at a GP surgery, hours 8 till 4. Aisha applied, interviewed well, got the offer. She asked, politely, if there was any flexibility on the hours. There wasn't. The role really did need to be 8 till 4, the manager said.

She went home and spent two weeks trying to make the sums work. When they didn't, again, she phoned the surgery back and turned it down. Then she cried, and wasn't sure who for: the job, or the version of herself who might have done it, or both.

This is easy to miss on paper. What decided whether Aisha worked or not wasn't her skill or her will. It was a job built on the assumption that someone else, somehow, was doing the school run.

Here's what moved the needle for two other parents in her position: a GP practice manager sat down with an advisor and looked at when the surgery was actually busiest, 8 till 11, then 2 till 4. They redesigned two admin roles around 9 till 3, term-time. Thirty strong applications came in for those two roles. Both hires had been out of paid work for years for caring reasons. Three years on, one has been promoted to lead receptionist.

That's what the Social Recruitment Covenant looks like in practice: jobs redesigned around real lives, not a form signed once. Find out what employers signing the Covenant actually commit to → https://peopleplus.co.uk/socialrecruitmentcovenant

Michael came out of prison at 31 with every intention of working, a probation officer who backed him, and a brother willing to put him up in a spare room while he found his feet. What he didn't expect was how complete honesty would work against him.

He declared his conviction on twelve separate job applications, carefully and truthfully each time, and heard nothing back from a single one. On the thirteenth, he left it off the form. He was offered the job, and then had it withdrawn once the disclosure check came back. The employer's stated reason was the dishonesty, a distinction that mattered enormously to him even as it cost him the role.

What turned things around was an advisor at a charity that specialises in supporting people with convictions into work, who did three things that made all the difference. She told him plainly which employers on his list were known never to hire someone in his position, and gave him a different list instead. She rehearsed the disclosure conversation with him until it was honest, brief and forward-looking rather than something to dread. And she introduced him personally to a small construction firm whose owner had, himself, been to prison many years before, and had built his business in part to give people like him a genuine chance.

Michael worked there for two years and has since moved on to a larger firm. About a third of the people that construction firm employs have a conviction in their past, and turnover among them runs lower than the average across the wider workforce.

The snake: an application form with a tick box that filters people out before anyone reads a word they've written.

The ladder: an advisor who knew which employers would give him a fair hearing, and one of them who had stood exactly where he once stood.

What's the biggest myth you've heard about hiring someone with a conviction? We'd like to know, tell us in the comments.

It might be summer, but Christmas came early to our Torfaen office this month.

The team welcomed local employer Festive for a recruitment event with a difference, transforming the office with decorations and festive hats to make them feel right at home.

Behind the scenes, Employment Relationship Manager Leanne had spent weeks pre-screening candidates and lining up CVs to make sure interview day ran without a hitch.

The result? Sixteen participants attending interviews and a delighted employer with Festive being so impressed with the quality of candidates they are considering a high number of them for roles within their shop department.

Festive loved it so much they're coming back later in August to recruit for more vacancies, and have already asked to make it an annual event. They've even referred candidates who weren't quite right for retail roles on to a local agency supplying their warehouse operation, opening up even more opportunities.

A brilliant example of what partnership working and a bit of Christmas spirit can achieve. Well done, Torfaen team!

Christmas comes early for the Restart Scheme participants in Torfaen! | PeoplePlus Christmas came early to the Torfaen office as the team welcomed local employer 'Festive' for a fantastic recruitment event – despite it only being summer time!…

When Barry came to our Tonbridge office through The Restart Scheme, he was recovering from a stroke that had affected his speech and movement. He'd been out of work for over a year and was low on confidence, unsure where to start.

With the right support, that soon changed. Barry worked with his Employment Advisor, Steffen Hallett, and Employment Relationship Manager, Darren Mellford, to build his confidence, practise for interviews, and even learn how to use a laptop for the first time, taking three attempts to get through onboarding, but never giving up.

Barry is now working as a cleaner and thriving in his role. He still pops into the Tonbridge office every few weeks just to say thank you.

"My time at PeoplePlus has been very good. They've helped me so much with my confidence and applying for jobs." - Barry Burston

Read Barry's full story here:

A clean start for Barry | PeoplePlus Barry came in for his initial meeting as part of The Restart Scheme, where he met his Advisor, Steffen Hallett. Barry explained that he'd had a stroke a few ye…

💙 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