Process evaluation of the Widening Access Demonstrators (WADs)

The launch of NHSE’s Widening Access Demonstrators signals flagship investment into deprived communities across England. The aim of the programme is to support 1,000 economically inactive young people and individuals into pre-employment programmes, and then on to substantive entry level roles, or training posts in their local health or care providers.

Through £5m of ‘Get Britain Working’ funding, CBs are expected to mobilise a wide range of new and existing partners across their local areas to deliver high-quality and targeted pre-employment programmes within the 2025/26 financial year. Sites are expected to work closely with partners including Job Centres and the Department for Work and Pensions to create a pathway for participants that includes access to quality mentoring, training, supervision and pastoral care in order that individuals can continue to develop their skills, confidence and qualifications ahead of seeking substantive entry level roles or further training opportunities.

The targets associated with the WAD programme are: Up to 100 participants per pilot site are to have been engaged with the pre-employability programme in their local community during 2025/26 Up to 60 participants per pilot site need to move into any positive destination (employment; apprenticeship role; education or training programme; work experience, volunteering). Of which up to 12 WTE participants per pilot site (total 120) (20%) should move into health or care employment for 12 months or longer post programme.