Connecting Opportunities

Connecting Opportunities is still running and is open to new referrals during the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak. All services for participants are being offered remotely. Existing participants should speak to their Keyworker to discuss specific arrangements. For information about this, that you can share, download our Connecting Opportunities is open for business poster [300KB - pdf format].

We work with new migrants to develop their skills and opportunities to find work and be part of the local community, in West Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire. Connecting Opportunities [CO] helps with:

• developing the skills needed to gain employment in the UK
• improving English
• feeling part of the community
• increasing confidence and well-being

		If you want to use the service: - find out more about the service - referral form
		If your company or organisation wants to get involved, go to: - employers
		If you'd like to be a mentor or befriender, go to:  - volunteer with us
		To hear participants and volunteers talk about their time on CO, and what they've achieved, go to: - good news stories

What do our participants say about us?

‘Learning English is the only thing I have not succeeded at yet in my life, the support I have from you makes me feel valuable and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn’

‘Before this project I was at home all the time, no family here, only me and my husband. So I didn’t know about anybody. Now I feel more confident, I feel happy.’

‘My dream is to have a job with parliament.’

More information

Several specialist organisations work together to provide the Connecting Opportunities service.

Download leaflets for participants - available in 21 languages

Download the CO brochure for stakeholders January 2020 - 5MB [pdf format]. This includes:

• overview of the service
• results and achievements
• 'meet some participants' section
• our priorities for the next 2 years
• how you can help

If you have any questions, please phone us on 0113 3788 700.

Who funds us?

Connecting Opportunities is funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund. It is part of the Building Better Opportunities programme.