By Sophie Huskisson

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Thousands of sick or disabled people will be helped into work through a major push to place job advisers in GP surgeries. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden pledged to give people a “hand up, not a hand out” as he set out plans to get 300,000 people with an illness or disability into work by 2030. He is today announcing a £167.2million boost to expand the Connect to Work programme to nine further areas across England, including Cumbria, Oxfordshire, and West Sussex and Brighton. It will mean over 40,000 more people will receive intensive employment support instead of getting sick notes. Ministers said the total funding is expected to reach over £1billion across England and Wales over the next five years and provide 300,000 sick or disabled people with employment support by the end of the decade. The Connect to Work programme, which is voluntary, is open to anyone who is disabled, has a health condition, or faces complex barriers to work. Support includes placing specialist advisers directly within healthcare teams, including GP surgeries to mental health services. In areas such as Portsmouth, the North East and East Sussex, support also includes using virtual reality immersive classrooms to support people with interview practice and helping parents access affordable childcare so they can re-enter the workforce. Currently there are approximately 2.8 million people out of work in the UK due to long-term sickness – a figure roughly equivalent to the population of Greater Manchester . Benefit claimants can be supported by work coaches at job centres in various ways, including being offered advice and referred for job opportunities. But the Government said specialist employment advisers, which it described as being different to work coaches, will ensure job support is treated as part of the all-round care on offer. Mr McFadden said: “Writing off people with long-term health conditions or disabilities fails them and fails our economy. We are giving people a hand up, not a handout, realising their potential and providing them with the skills to succeed.” The North East is among areas to receive funding today, with some 13,800 people set to benefit from a £49.7million package of support. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “The North East is an amazing place to work but too many people are facing barriers when they’re trying to find a job. “However, that’s all about to change as we help thousands of people back to the workplace with tailored support that tackles the issues they’re facing.” Table source: DWP Connect to Work delivery area Lead authority Included authorities (lead in bold) Funding (rounded down to nearest £0.1) Number of people set to support (rounded down to nearest 50) North East North East Mayoral Combined Authority £49.7m 13,800 Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire Council Buckinghamshire Council £7.2m 1,650 Oxfordshire Oxford County Council Oxford County Council £8.3m 2,000 West Sussex and Brighton West Sussex County Council £15.6m 3,950 Berkshire Wokingham Borough Council £9.5m 2,350 Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay Devon County Council £22.8m 5,950 Cumbria Cumberland Council £11.7m 2,750 South Midlands West Northamptonshire Council £32m 8,050 York and North Yorkshire York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority £10.4m 2,500