Employment

What is employment support?

Employment support is practical guidance and help for people facing barriers to accessing jobs and volunteering opportunities. It can include building confidence, developing skills, exploring career options, improving CVs or interview techniques, and getting advice tailored to individual needs. 

For people living with mental health challenges, issues with substance use, or in recovery, finding and keeping work can be especially difficult. Conditions like anxiety or depression can affect confidence, energy, or focus, and there are often additional barriers such as poor employment opportunities, lack of support, or stigma. 

How employment support works 

Employment support is delivered through personalised one-to-one guidance from a peer mentor. This support is shaped around individual needs and focuses on understanding personal experiences, building confidence, and working towards recovery and employment goals.

The peer mentor uses their own lived experience to offer understanding and encouragement, helping people feel supported as they move towards sustainable employment opportunities. We offer a range of peer mentoring services across Wales that support people with mental health or addiction issues to develop their skills and work towards gaining secure, sustainable employment.

Using their own lived experience, peer mentors support individuals on their own recovery journeys to build their experience, access training and re-enter the job market.

Find out more about our Employment services here. 

Other ways to access employment support

• Jobcentre Plus (DWP) - help finding work, benefits advice, and training programmes (0800 055 6688). 
• Working Wales (Welsh Government) - careers advice, CV help, and job matching support (0800 028 4844). 
• ReAct+ programme - support for people facing barriers to work (training, retraining, and employer incentives). 
• Careers Wales - guidance, apprenticeships, and education-to-work pathways (0800 028 4844). 
• Local councils & employability services - targeted support for long-term unemployed or vulnerable groups. 
• Charities (e.g. Shaw Trust, Nacro) - help for people with convictions, disabilities, or other barriers.