Waiting for Access to Work? You Don’t Have to Wait for Support

Sometimes the support you need exists… but the waiting list between you and that support feels impossibly long. Many people on this newsletter already know about Access to Work. Some of you have applied. Some of you are still considering it. And others may be right in the middle of the waiting period, hoping the approval will come through soon. If that’s you, there’s something important you should know. **What Access to Work Is - And Why It Can Be So Valuable** Access to Work is a UK government scheme designed to help people stay in employment when health, wellbeing, or neurological differences make work more challenging. It can fund practical support that helps you do your job more effectively. That support might include specialist equipment, workplace adjustments, or professional coaching. For many people, coaching is one of the most valuable elements of the scheme. It helps with things like confidence at work, managing stress, improving focus, navigating workplace relationships, and building strategies that make day-to-day working life easier. Because of this, many people who work with our practitioners through our coaching franchise access their sessions through Access to Work funding. It’s a fantastic scheme and one that genuinely helps people stay in work and thrive. But there is one challenge. Support can take time to arrive. Progress delayed is still progress worth pursuing. **The Waiting Period Can Be Frustrating** At the moment, Access to Work applications can take quite a while to process. For employed applicants, the wait can be around six months. For self-employed applicants, it can stretch to nine months. That’s a long time if you’re currently struggling at work. When each week feels like a battle with focus, confidence, burnout, or overwhelm, waiting several months for support can feel discouraging. Many people assume they simply have to wait it out. But that’s not necessarily the case. **Coaching Support Is Available Sooner** All of the practitioners within our coaching franchise also offer privately funded coaching sessions. This means that if you are currently waiting for Access to Work approval, you don’t have to put everything on hold in the meantime. Some people choose to fund a few sessions themselves to get started. Others speak with their employer about contributing to coaching support while the Access to Work application is being processed. Many employers are happy to help because the outcome benefits everyone - improved wellbeing, stronger performance, and greater reliability at work. Our coaching franchise has supported many professionals in exactly this situation: people who know they need support now rather than several months from now. *Sometimes the most powerful step forward is simply deciding not to wait.* *Support doesn’t have to begin only when funding arrives.* **How To Take The Next Step** If you have already applied for Access to Work, we absolutely encourage you to continue with that process. The funding can provide valuable long-term support. But if you’re currently in the waiting period and finding work particularly difficult, you don’t have to manage it alone. Our practitioners offer private coaching sessions that can begin much sooner, helping you develop strategies to manage challenges, build confidence, and make your working life more sustainable. Some people continue privately until their Access to Work funding begins. Others choose to involve their employer in supporting the cost. Either way, the important thing to remember is that help is available. And sometimes starting sooner rather than later can make a significant difference. If you would like to explore coaching options, simply reply to this email and we can help connect you with a practitioner from our coaching franchise who is right for you. by Gemma Bailey (with the help of Ai) https://www.peoplebuilding.co.uk/franchise