Support for individuals

Shaw Trust believes that everyone has the right to work and live independent lives. As a national charity, our work is about empowering people to improve their lives and to believe in their own abilities as passionately as we do. 

Every year we help thousands of people who need extra support to achieve their employment and personal development goals.

If you’re claiming benefits, unemployed and want to work, looking for support in work, or want to take control of your daily care, we can help you.

Before you find work:

• pre-work activities which enable people to become more 'work ready' and acquire life skills
• personal development and training courses to help you decide where you want to be and to equip you with the skills and motivation to get there
• employment programmes   to help you move from benefits into employment. We operate a range of employment focussed services including Pathways to Work, New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP), Workstep and projects funded by European Social Fund.
• Independent Living Services which can help you to make choices about managing your own care.   

Working with us, you can be sure of: 

• confidential advice
• a programme designed specifically to suit you
• a dedicated Adviser to work with you one-to-one

Highlights in this section

Finding a Job

If you're claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA),Incapacity or sickness benefits and would like to work but don't know where to start, Shaw Trust can help.

Help to stay in work

Working closely with you and your employer, we can support you to stay in work.

Independent Living Services

Shaw Trust can help you to become more independent by using Direct Payments.