Supporting More Than 2,000 Women to Build Confidence, Skills and Brighter Futures
Partners, participants, stakeholders and supporters gathered at The Meadow, near Harrow Road, on 17 June to celebrate 10 years of the SWEET programme, funded by the National Lottery. The anniversary garden party brought together women who have benefited from the programme, alongside delivery partners and community organisations, to reflect on a decade of supporting women across London to overcome barriers, build confidence and take meaningful steps towards employment, training and greater independence.
Delivered collaboratively by Paddington Development Trust (PDT), Equi-Vision and Belina Consulting, through its Grow Programme, SWEET was established to support women from ethnic minority communities who are furthest from the labour market and often face multiple and complex barriers to employment. Over the past decade, the programme has worked with women across Westminster, Camden, Kensington & Chelsea, Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hillingdon and Hounslow, providing personalised support, practical guidance and opportunities to develop confidence, skills and resilience.
A Decade of Impact
Over the past 10 years, SWEET has supported 2,016 women across London, helping those furthest from the labour market to build confidence, develop skills and take meaningful steps towards employment, training and greater independence.
The programme has supported:
- 1,027 women who were unemployed, including many experiencing long-term unemployment
- 947 women who were economically inactive
- 1,819 women from ethnic minority communities
- 336 women with disabilities
- 371 women aged over 50
Many participants faced significant barriers to employment. Around 65% of women supported had been unemployed for more than two years, with 52% unemployed for more than three years. Many were balancing caring responsibilities, adapting to life in the UK, overcoming language barriers, rebuilding confidence after extended periods away from work or navigating unfamiliar systems and services. Despite these challenges, the programme achieved 505 positive progressions, including:
- 234 unemployed women moving into employment
- 271 economically inactive women progressing into employment, self-employment or active job search
The programme has also demonstrated significant improvements in confidence and readiness for work, with 60% of participants reporting increased confidence and knowledge about accessing employment, volunteering and training opportunities. Alongside employability support, SWEET has invested in leadership development, supporting 48 women through specialist leadership training. Of these, 27 reported greater clarity about leadership roles and 40% progressed into employment or became advocates within their communities.
Supporting the Whole Person
A key strength of SWEET has been its holistic approach. Rather than focusing solely on employment outcomes, the programme has worked with women to address the barriers preventing them from moving forward, recognising that confidence, wellbeing, community connections and practical support are often essential foundations for sustainable employment.
Women are referred to the programme through schools, children’s centres, charities, community organisations and word of mouth. Through personalised one-to-one support and group activities, participants are supported to build confidence, develop practical skills and better understand the opportunities available to them.
Support has included one-to-one guidance, employability workshops, volunteering opportunities, leadership development, childcare support, travel assistance, training opportunities and community-based learning.
The programme also adapted rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, moving services online and helping participants overcome digital exclusion so they could continue accessing support, learning and employment opportunities.
Throughout the life of the programme, SWEET has recognised that progress is not always measured solely by employment outcomes. For many women, the first step has been building confidence, improving English language skills, developing community connections, volunteering or understanding how to navigate education, training and employment systems in the UK.
Building Confidence and Creating Opportunity
The impact of SWEET can be seen in the stories of the women who have been supported through the programme.
Surayya joined the programme after moving to the UK from India. As a mother of young children, she was looking for part-time work but had never worked before and found it difficult to gain the experience employers were looking for.
With support from her adviser, she began volunteering in a local school, building confidence, skills and practical experience. She also attended employability sessions and received interview preparation support. When a paid role became available at the school, Surayya successfully applied and was offered a position as a School Meals Supervisory Assistant. Reflecting on her experience, she said: “They help mums like me to improve confidence and present ourselves in interviews. I didn’t know these things before. It’s really good.”
Her story reflects the experience of many women supported through SWEET, where confidence, experience and practical support often provide the foundations for long-term success. Over the years, women have also progressed from participants to community champions, volunteers, advocates and members of delivery teams themselves, creating a lasting legacy that extends beyond employment outcomes and into stronger, more connected communities.
Reflecting on ten years
Ola Badamosi, Deputy CEO at Paddington Development Trust, said: “SWEET has shown what is possible when we take the time to understand the whole person, not just their employment goals. Many of the women we have supported over the past 10 years have faced multiple barriers, including long-term unemployment, caring responsibilities, language barriers and a lack of confidence. Through a holistic approach, trusted relationships and tailored support, we have helped women take meaningful steps towards employment, training and greater independence. The longevity of the programme has been one of its greatest strengths, allowing us to build trust within communities and support women at a pace that works for them. We are incredibly proud of the impact this partnership has achieved and the lives it has helped to change.”
Liz Sewell, Director at Belina Consulting, said: “For 10 years, SWEET has been supporting women to recognise their strengths, overcome barriers and believe in what is possible for their future. We know that moving closer to work is not always a straightforward journey and that confidence, wellbeing and connection are often the foundations that make progress possible. Through the dedication of our teams and the strength of our partnership, we have supported thousands of women to take positive steps forward. The impact of SWEET can be seen not only in employment outcomes, but in the confidence, resilience and independence that women have gained along the way. As we celebrate this milestone, we are also celebrating the achievements of every woman who has been part of the programme.”
Yvonne Wilson, Director, Equi-Vision Services Ltd, said: “SWEET has been a truly inspiring programme to work on. Over the past 10 years, we have been able to support women in an honest and practical way, helping them address the issues that can prevent real progress, including housing, trauma, childcare and caring responsibilities, confidence, training and much more. When a woman comes back to us having found her value and her voice and says, ‘I have found a job,’ ‘I have moved home,’ or, in one memorable case, ‘I have bought a house,’ it is incredibly inspiring. Through National Lottery funding, we have changed lives. By recognising that when we support an individual woman, we are often improving outcomes for an entire family, we create lasting impact that extends far beyond employment alone. We hope more funders continue to recognise the long-term value of investing in people rather than simply focusing on numbers. Programmes like SWEET help break the revolving-door cycle by giving women the confidence, skills and support they need not only to find employment, but to sustain it and continue growing long after the programme has ended.”
Looking Ahead
As the programme enters its final year of funding, partners reflected on the importance of continuing to learn from approaches that successfully engage people who are furthest from the labour market. Over the past decade, SWEET has demonstrated that long-term, community-based support can help women overcome significant barriers and move towards brighter futures for themselves, their families and their communities. The anniversary celebration provided an opportunity not only to reflect on what has been achieved, but also to consider how these lessons can continue to influence employability support in the future.
