He was put in touch with Lauren, a Mental Health Advisor at Fedcap, which is delivering the WorkWell service on behalf of Surrey County Council. Lauren began by working with Neil to create a toolkit of practical techniques he could use whenever he felt overwhelmed. These included box breathing, the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method, and the Circle of Control to help him recognise where to focus his energy and when to practise acceptance. Neil finds comfort in nature and often chose to sit outdoors during his video appointments with Lauren while he practised these methods and talked through how he was feeling.

As Neil started to feel more stable, he wanted to improve how he communicated with others. Together with Lauren, he explored assertiveness techniques and worked on responding to situations rather than reacting to them. By recognising his triggers and naming the emotions he experienced, Neil learned to approach interactions with greater self-awareness and control. Over time, Neil noticed a lift in his mood and started thinking more positively. This growing confidence, coupled with his hard work and determination, led him to attend his first jobs fair, something that at the start of his journey would never have been an option. His progress continued rapidly from this point, where he felt confident enough to start applying for roles. He not only secured a second-stage interview but has now been offered the role of a Support Worker and is due to start work in September.

After completing his time on the service, Neil completed health outcome measures which showed a 67% improvement in his mental health-related quality of life and an 89% improvement in his ability to manage work and social functioning. For comparison, improvements of just 10–20% are usually considered meaningful in mental health outcomes, making Neil’s progress truly exceptional.

Reflecting on his experience, Neil said:
“Lauren, you are the best! Thank you so much. I hope Fedcap realise what a great asset you are — I feel really lucky to have had you help me. I always come off the phone with a smile and wish you all the best for the future.

The post Focusing on wellbeing brings Neil a new outlook on work appeared first on Fedcap Employment.

Shortly after starting with Fedcap, Aneta faced a personal tragedy—the loss of her sister—which delayed her progress. Despite this, her Employment Adviser, Paul, stayed in regular contact, offering steady support. Paul referred her to Riverside Clubhouse, a supportive community space where Aneta could find belonging and help with her homelessness.

At first, Aneta was unsure about Clubhouse and kept to herself, focusing on job searching. Gradually, encouraged by members and her Unit Coordinator, she began participating more, gaining confidence and forming strong friendships. During this time, she managed to secure a room in a shared home, while an improvement on being homeless, the situation wasn’t ideal, and Aneta found herself feeling unsafe and uncomfortable at the home. Aneta used Riverside as a safe environment away from her living space, attending more regularly, where she quickly became one of the Clubhouse’s most regular members, attending two to four times a week.

With ongoing support, Aneta achieved the personal goals she set and took part in employment classes, which helped build her skills and self-esteem. Her hard work led to four job offers. She accepted a full-time role as a Civil Enforcement Officer, starting in April 2025, and is excited to move into her own home this July.

Aneta reflects on her journey:

“I wouldn’t have had the courage to meet people if it weren’t for Riverside Clubhouse. It became my second home—a place where I felt safe and truly supported. Through the Clubhouse, I regained my confidence and self-esteem, and I’m proud to say I passed all my interviews with confidence. I’m in a very happy place now and want to thank everyone at Fedcap and Riverside Clubhouse, especially Frohar, for being such a vital part of my journey.”

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After being unemployed for nearly three years, Andy joined the Restart Scheme at our Oxford office. He was referred to our Health & Wellbeing Adviser, Vanessa, who supported him throughout his journey. Together, they developed a personalised wellness action plan focused on pain management and building a more hopeful mindset. Andy attended Pain Management workshops and learned how to better pace himself, adjusting daily activities in line with his health.

As his mindset shifted, so did his career goals. Andy realised warehouse work was no longer suitable for him, so began to reevaluate what it is he wanted from work. He took part in a range of workshops including ‘Interview Success Preparation’ and ‘Crafting Compelling Cover Letters’, which helped rebuild his confidence and steered him towards a new career path. Andy rediscovered a long-held interest in boating and, with the help from his Employment Adviser, created a tailored CV to showcase his skills and knowledge for potential boating roles.

After spending time applying for a range of relevant roles, he was offered a skipper role which required him to register as self-employed. To give him all the tools to become self-employed, he was then referred to our specialist partner, Momentic, where he received support on business planning, bookkeeping, and registering with HMRC—essential steps he said he couldn’t have navigated alone.

Reflecting on his new career path, Andy said:
“Whilst I was nervous about doing this, I’m a lot happier—although I still endure pain. Having been out of work for about three years, I’m really happy and proud to be doing something that’s been an interest of mine for many years.”

Now, just months into his new career, Andy has purchased a boat and plans to run his own river cruises, fishing trips, and events over and above his job as a skipper. Though he still has to manage his physical pain, he feels more confident and fulfilled—and has been widely praised for what he’s achieved in under a year.

The post From Pain to Purpose: Andy Sets Sail on a New Career Path appeared first on Fedcap Employment.

As David began progressing with getting his license back, we helped financially with the medical he needed to undergo. We also signposted him to our dedicated health and wellbeing team to support him with his mum’s bereavement.

David is awaiting his license so he can begin looking at courses and contacting bus companies. He’s regained his confidence and he continues to receive employability and health and wellbeing support from Fedcap.

David said: “On being referred to the Restart Scheme, I was, probably like most people very apprehensive and wary of what to expect. I went away from that first meeting with no doubts that I would enjoy the scheme and the expertise of the Fedcap team to my full advantage. I’m learning so much from the team, including preparing not only for my preferred career choice, but also positively exploring other career paths should my first choice not be possible.

“There is absolutely nothing daunting about attending the  Restart Scheme. It should be looked upon as an enjoyable, positive step towards getting back into work with the assistance of a great team of people that are dedicated to helping you in every way they can.”

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