A successful support programme delivered across Torbay from April 2024 – Oct 2025 has helped hundreds of residents facing significant health, financial and social barriers to rebuild their confidence, wellbeing and readiness for work.
The Focus Forward Programme, delivered by Eat That Frog CIC in partnership with I Can Do That, was commissioned by Torbay Council and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The programme supported economically inactive residents aged 19+ who had been out of work due to challenges such as mental and physical health conditions, anxiety, social isolation, debt, housing insecurity and low digital confidence.
Delivered through community venues across Torbay, the programme offered flexible, person-centred support designed to meet people where they were. Participants received help with wellbeing, employability, digital skills, financial resilience and confidence building, alongside access to specialist mental health and community support.
The programme exceeded its engagement target, supporting 380 economically inactive residents, many of whom had previously struggled to access traditional employment services. Weekly hubs and group activities included employability and digital skills sessions, wellbeing support, social groups to reduce isolation and workshops focused on housing, benefits and financial stability.
Wellbeing was central to the programme’s success. 76 participants accessed specialist mental or physical health support, with many reporting improvements in confidence, motivation and quality of life.
One Focus Forward learner said, “I now feel I am in a position to contribute to my partner’s income, to be able to have better accommodation and a better quality of life.”
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Creative activities, volunteering opportunities and wellbeing walks helped participants rebuild routines, social connections and self-belief. Another learner shared, “I’m proud of myself, of how far I have come in building my self-esteem, to achieving high marks and all the other goals I’ve completed whilst being on Focus Forward.”
Alongside wellbeing support, Focus Forward helped participants develop practical skills and stability. 223 people received job search and CV support, 225 people were supported to engage with the benefits system and 187 socially excluded individuals accessed tailored support. The programme also delivered significant financial impact, with more than £110,000 of debt written off and over £200,000 secured or improved annually through benefits and grants, reducing financial stress and improving stability.
Torbay Council’s, UK SPF Programme Manager, Gemma Fitzsimmons, said:“The Focus Forward programme has achieved significant benefit for almost 400 people who have been long-term unemployed in Torbay. We know that there is a spectrum of reasons that people may find themselves out of work for an extended period of time and Focus Forward has worked sensitively with participants to address these, whilst raising aspirations and moving them back closer to the labour market. Focus Forward demonstrates that with tailored provision, employment and skills projects can provide real life impact.”
While many participants required time to stabilise before moving towards employment, the programme supported 60 people into employment or self-employment, with 26 sustaining work for six months or more. Many others are now job-ready or have progressed into further training, volunteering or follow-on support.
Eat That Frog CIC is extremely proud of the holistic and community-based support delivered through the Focus Forward Programme and the difference it has made to people’s lives across Torbay. Supporting individuals with complex health, financial and social barriers requires time, trust and compassion and the programme has shown just how powerful that approach can be. Seeing participants rebuild confidence, improve wellbeing, reconnect with their community and move closer to work or further opportunities has been a genuinely uplifting outcome of the programme.
Funding acknowledgement:
This programme was commissioned by Torbay Council and funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central UK Government programme, providing funding for cross-UK investment to support local communities and economic growth.
For more information about Eat That Frog C.I.C. or I Can Do That! C.I.C. services please visit https://eatthatfrog.ac.uk or https://icandothat.co/
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