A local NHS Trust leading the delivery of WorkWell in the Black Country is making a significant impact in supporting people from ethnic minority and underrepresented communities, with at least 1235 programme starts - representing 45% of all participants.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Employment and Recovery service is leading the way in integrating health and employment support, recognising the critical link between good mental health and access to sustainable work. This is particularly significant in the Black Country, one of the most diverse areas in the West Midlands, where many communities continue to face longstanding inequalities and barriers to both healthcare and employment opportunities.
WorkWell has been designed to respond to these challenges, offering tailored, culturally responsive support that meets people where they are. Through strong partnerships with local organisations such as The Refugee and Migrant Centre in Walsall and Wolverhampton, faith groups and community networks, the programme is reaching individuals who may previously have felt excluded from traditional services.
This includes people experiencing mental health challenges, which can often be more pronounced among underrepresented communities due to factors such as stigma, access barriers, and wider social inequalities. By embedding health support within employment pathways, WorkWell is helping individuals improve their wellbeing while moving closer to or into work.
The scale of engagement reflects both the need for this type of support and the trust built within local communities.
Nadia Haywood, WorkWell Operational Manager said: “As an NHS-led programme, we understand that health, particularly mental health, plays a crucial role in people’s ability to access and sustain employment. In the Black Country, where our communities are incredibly diverse, it’s essential that services are designed to be inclusive, accessible and culturally responsive.
“Seeing 45% of our participants coming from ethnic minority and underrepresented communities shows that we are reaching people who have too often been underserved. It’s about building trust, working with communities, and delivering support that genuinely reflects people’s needs.”
The impact of WorkWell extends beyond participation figures. By supporting individuals to improve their health and wellbeing while accessing employment and skills opportunities, the programme is helping to reduce inequalities, strengthen local communities, and contribute to a more inclusive economy.
A key part of this success has been the Trust’s community-first approach, delivering outreach in familiar settings and multiple languages, and working through trusted local partners to ensure support is welcoming and accessible.
As the programme continues with second year of delivery now underway, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust remains committed to building on this progress demonstrating the vital role that NHS-led, community-focused services can play in improving both health outcomes and economic opportunity across the Black Country.