A major programme supporting autistic and disabled young people into work is entering a new phase across the East Midlands to improve transitions from education into employment and help create more inclusive workplaces.
The second phase of Connected Futures in the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) will strengthen education skills, transitions into work, and support for employers.
The regional programme – funded by Youth Futures Foundation – aims to “empower young people with autism and/or learning difficulties across the region on their journey into employment”, helping marginalised young people across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire into good jobs.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “Connected Futures is about changing how systems work so young people with learning difficulties and autism have a fair chance in the labour market. By bringing together education, employers and local partners, we can ensure the right support and opportunities are in place so that these young people can flourish and contribute.”
Youth Futures Foundation’s latest Youth Employment Outlook says one in eight young people across the UK are not earning or learning, an increase of more than a third in four years. It also highlights how more than one in three unemployed young people have been unemployed and looking for work for more than six months, a number which has more than doubled since 2022, from 107,000 to 240,000.
Nationally, the UK government has this week announced a £1 billion youth employment drive designed to help create about 200,000 jobs and apprenticeships for young people aged 16–24. The package includes new incentives for employers and reforms to apprenticeships aimed at reversing rising youth unemployment and expanding opportunities across the country.
Mayor Claire said: “Every young person deserves the chance to build a good future. This programme will help more young people across the East Midlands move from education into meaningful employment, while supporting employers to create more inclusive workplaces.”
Phase one of Connected Futures in EMCCA focused on identifying the areas where support was needed the most. This included the need for young people’s voices to shape decisions, the importance within schools of better preparation for employment and more knowledge of pathways into work.
Phase two, running until June 2028, will build on these insights by making support more joined up and effective, bringing together local authorities, schools and colleges, employers and young people.
The programme will strengthen:
Support includes helping young people identify strengths and job aspirations; individual workplace plans to help employers provide tailored support; recruitment and workplace‑readiness training for employers; resources for use in schools; and co‑production workshops where young people shape decisions about services and pathways into work.
Four Connected Futures Ambassadors are now being recruited in the East Midlands. The young ambassadors will help guide the work and share youth perspectives.
Summer, a youth voice ambassador during phase one, said: “Phase two is exciting because it builds on the work we did in phase one and increases the awareness of autism spectrum condition and learning disabilities across the East Midlands.
“This work matters because we have lived experiences and that’s important to drive meaningful change. We want to help increase employment outcomes for young people with autism and learning disabilities.”
Connected Futures is a national programme developed by Youth Futures Foundation. Each local partnership works with young people from marginalised backgrounds to:
Barry Fletcher, Youth Futures Foundation chief executive officer, said: “We’re pleased to announce this further investment, which will enable our Connected Futures East Midlands partnership to continue driving change and improving employment opportunities for young people with learning disabilities and autism in the region.
“The programme will continue to build on the insights of young people, stakeholders and evidence-based practice to create meaningful and sustainable improvements in the systems supporting youth employment.
“As part of our commitment to understanding what works, the programme will generate learning that can inform future policy and practice. By tackling structural barriers and promoting inclusive pathways into work, we aim to create lasting impact for young people facing these challenges across the East Midlands.”
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The programme supports the work of the Milburn Review of young people and work. The UK government has commissioned the independent review into the rising number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The inquiry, led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, is focused on the “crisis of opportunity” for nearly a million young people aged 16-24 who are NEET. Launched in late 2025, the review calls for evidence on barriers like disability and health issues, aiming to provide recommendations to get young people into work and training, with findings expected in summer 2026.
Published on: 18 March 2026
Categories: News, Skills and Employment