Working Links was founded in 2000 and operates in more than
180 locations across England, Scotland and
Wales. It is a unique organisation
that delivers services to tackle social exclusion and poverty by
helping disadvantaged individuals and communities.
The organisation’s belief that employment is
the best route out of poverty has helped more than
150,000 people
back into work and is currently helping one person into work every
two minutes of the working day.
It is a
public-private-voluntary company. Its shareholders are the
government’s Shareholder
Executive, Manpower,
Capgemini and
Mission
Australia. It delivers effective solutions by working
in partnership with organisations including the Learning and Skills
Council, Jobcentre Plus, and the Probation Service.
Profit is not Working Links’ only
driving force. Its shareholders endorse its social purpose
and are interested in how Working Links can create long
term value, investing in the quality of services and the
communities where it operates.
Working Links helps and supports
people who face significant challenges and barriers such as those
who have been unemployed for a long time to former offenders, lone
parents and older workers. It also works with employers and the
prison and probation services to help prisoners in over 20
institutions.
By helping the most vulnerable in
society to improve their skills and help them move into
jobs with a future, Working Links can create a greater sense of
social inclusion. This leads to better health,
education, reduced crime and brighter futures.
When Working Links was founded in April 2000 their
shareholders decided a proportion of profits should be reinvested
to support the communities where works. The Links
Foundation was subsequently launched in 2004 as a
charitable trust to distribute this Community Reinvestment
Fund. Since then, more than £3 million has been invested
and more than 150 projects across Britain have
benefited.