1 - What exactly is Work It Out?
Work It Out is a practical community-based development framework that helps people build confidence, create opportunities, develop careers, generate income, strengthen relationships and support one another in achieving their goals. Whilst employment remains an important outcome, Work It Out goes beyond traditional job search support by helping people build sustainable futures in a rapidly changing world.
The programme combines career development, peer support, community engagement, opportunity creation and practical action into a simple but powerful process that can be adapted to meet local needs.
2 - How is Work It Out different from traditional employability programmes?
Most employability programmes focus primarily on helping people find jobs. Work It Out focuses on helping people build futures. Rather than concentrating solely on CVs, applications and interviews, Work It Out helps individuals identify their strengths, build supportive networks, create practical workpieces, develop confidence, explore opportunities and contribute positively to their communities.
Perhaps most importantly, Work It Out creates ongoing communities of support. People continue helping one another long after the initial programme has finished, creating sustainable local networks that continue to generate opportunities and encouragement.
3 - Who is Work It Out designed to support?
Work It Out can support a wide range of individuals, including young people who are unemployed, economically inactive adults, people returning to work, career changers, those considering self-employment, individuals experiencing social isolation and people who simply need support to identify their next steps. The framework is intentionally flexible and can be adapted to reflect local priorities and target groups.
4 - Why are there two facilitators in each area?
The two-facilitator model sits at the heart of the Work It Out philosophy. We believe people achieve more when they work together than when they work alone. Having two facilitators creates shared learning, mutual support, continuity of delivery and greater local capacity. It also models the very behaviours we encourage throughout the programme. Two facilitators can support each other, solve problems together, share ideas and build stronger local communities than either could achieve independently.
5 - Who can be a facilitator?
We are looking for people with energy, positivity and a genuine desire to help others succeed. Facilitators may come from local authorities, colleges, training providers, voluntary organisations, community groups, businesses or other sectors. Most organisations find that the role can comfortably be undertaken by staff within existing employment, skills, community development or wellbeing functions.
Training experience is helpful but not essential. What matters most is the ability to encourage people, work collaboratively and believe in the potential of others. We provide the training, support and resources needed to help facilitators succeed.
6 - How much time is involved?
Some organisations have dedicated staff full-time, whilst others opt for part-time roles. Secondments and voluntary roles are also welcome. The minimum time input by Facilitators is typically 1 - 2 days per week.
7 - What support is provided to facilitators?
Every licensed area receives comprehensive support throughout the twelve months. This includes initial facilitator training, monthly national development sessions, access to programme resources, practical implementation support, coaching and mentoring, promotional materials, monitoring frameworks and participation in the wider national Work It Out network.
Facilitator teams are never expected to work in isolation. They become part of a growing community of colleagues across the UK who learn from and support one another.
8 - What are workpieces?
A workpiece is any practical activity that helps someone move forward. Workpieces may include employment opportunities, self-employment ideas, community projects, volunteering, online businesses, creative ventures, training programmes, mentoring activities, social enterprises or collaborative initiatives. The emphasis is on action, contribution and personal growth rather than simply discussing ideas.
9 - How many people can a pilot support?
A typical pilot area can directly engage upwards of 500 people during the initial 12-month period, whilst simultaneously creating an ongoing community infrastructure that extends beyond the pilot itself. As communities mature, participants increasingly support one another and often become volunteer champions, mentors and future facilitators, helping the model grow organically year after year.
10 - What does the participant journey look like?
The participant journey process begins with an open introductory workshop for 100 - 200 people. The first of these in each area is hosted by Des McCabe (with your Two Facilitators). Here, participants learn about the Work It Out approach and explore new possibilities for their future.
Participants then join a structured six-week development programme where they identify goals, recognise strengths, create practical workpieces, develop confidence and support one another's progress. Following the initial programme, members continue meeting in their cohort groups where they share opportunities, develop projects, solve problems together and support new members entering the process.
11 - How does Work It Out address the challenges created by AI and automation?
Work It Out recognises that artificial intelligence and automation are changing the nature of work across almost every sector. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, participants are encouraged to use AI positively to explore opportunities, develop ideas, create projects, build businesses, strengthen employability and generate new forms of income. The programme helps people prepare for the future rather than simply react to it.
12 - What outcomes are measured?
The programme tracks a range of practical outcomes, including employment, self-employment, training participation, confidence, wellbeing, community involvement, social connectedness, income generation activity and personal development.
Alongside these measurable outcomes, Work It Out also focuses on creating stronger communities where people support one another and continue developing opportunities long after formal delivery has ended.
13 - How does the programme become sustainable?
Work It Out is designed to grow through community ownership rather than ongoing dependence on external funding. Over time, participants become mentors, champions and facilitators. Local partnerships develop naturally. New members are introduced through existing networks. Opportunities are shared within the community and new initiatives emerge from the relationships that are formed.
The result is a sustainable local infrastructure of support, encouragement and opportunity that continues long after the initial pilot period.
14 - What is the investment?
The annual pilot partnership investment is £20,000 and includes two licensed facilitator places, initial training, twelve months of development support, monthly national learning sessions, coaching and mentoring, programme resources, promotional materials, monitoring tools and full participation in the national Work It Out ecosystem.
The aim is not simply to deliver a programme but to create a lasting community asset that continues generating value for years to come.
15 - What is the long-term vision?
Our vision is to create a nationwide network of Work It Out communities where people support one another, create opportunities together and ensure that nobody faces life's challenges alone.
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, economic uncertainty and rapid change, we believe that strong communities, supportive relationships based on kindness and collective action will become more important than ever. Work It Out provides a practical framework for making that vision a reality.
Work It Out - Building Communities Where Everyone Succeeds and Nobody Gets Left Behind.
Work It Out is a practical community-based development framework that helps people build confidence, create opportunities, develop careers, generate income, strengthen relationships and support one another in achieving their goals. Whilst employment remains an important outcome, Work It Out goes beyond traditional job search support by helping people build sustainable futures in a rapidly changing world.
The programme combines career development, peer support, community engagement, opportunity creation and practical action into a simple but powerful process that can be adapted to meet local needs.
2 - How is Work It Out different from traditional employability programmes?
Most employability programmes focus primarily on helping people find jobs. Work It Out focuses on helping people build futures. Rather than concentrating solely on CVs, applications and interviews, Work It Out helps individuals identify their strengths, build supportive networks, create practical workpieces, develop confidence, explore opportunities and contribute positively to their communities.
Perhaps most importantly, Work It Out creates ongoing communities of support. People continue helping one another long after the initial programme has finished, creating sustainable local networks that continue to generate opportunities and encouragement.
3 - Who is Work It Out designed to support?
Work It Out can support a wide range of individuals, including young people who are unemployed, economically inactive adults, people returning to work, career changers, those considering self-employment, individuals experiencing social isolation and people who simply need support to identify their next steps. The framework is intentionally flexible and can be adapted to reflect local priorities and target groups.
4 - Why are there two facilitators in each area?
The two-facilitator model sits at the heart of the Work It Out philosophy. We believe people achieve more when they work together than when they work alone. Having two facilitators creates shared learning, mutual support, continuity of delivery and greater local capacity. It also models the very behaviours we encourage throughout the programme. Two facilitators can support each other, solve problems together, share ideas and build stronger local communities than either could achieve independently.
5 - Who can be a facilitator?
We are looking for people with energy, positivity and a genuine desire to help others succeed. Facilitators may come from local authorities, colleges, training providers, voluntary organisations, community groups, businesses or other sectors. Most organisations find that the role can comfortably be undertaken by staff within existing employment, skills, community development or wellbeing functions.
Training experience is helpful but not essential. What matters most is the ability to encourage people, work collaboratively and believe in the potential of others. We provide the training, support and resources needed to help facilitators succeed.
6 - How much time is involved?
Some organisations have dedicated staff full-time, whilst others opt for part-time roles. Secondments and voluntary roles are also welcome. The minimum time input by Facilitators is typically 1 - 2 days per week.
7 - What support is provided to facilitators?
Every licensed area receives comprehensive support throughout the twelve months. This includes initial facilitator training, monthly national development sessions, access to programme resources, practical implementation support, coaching and mentoring, promotional materials, monitoring frameworks and participation in the wider national Work It Out network.
Facilitator teams are never expected to work in isolation. They become part of a growing community of colleagues across the UK who learn from and support one another.
8 - What are workpieces?
A workpiece is any practical activity that helps someone move forward. Workpieces may include employment opportunities, self-employment ideas, community projects, volunteering, online businesses, creative ventures, training programmes, mentoring activities, social enterprises or collaborative initiatives. The emphasis is on action, contribution and personal growth rather than simply discussing ideas.
9 - How many people can a pilot support?
A typical pilot area can directly engage upwards of 500 people during the initial 12-month period, whilst simultaneously creating an ongoing community infrastructure that extends beyond the pilot itself. As communities mature, participants increasingly support one another and often become volunteer champions, mentors and future facilitators, helping the model grow organically year after year.
10 - What does the participant journey look like?
The participant journey process begins with an open introductory workshop for 100 - 200 people. The first of these in each area is hosted by Des McCabe (with your Two Facilitators). Here, participants learn about the Work It Out approach and explore new possibilities for their future.
Participants then join a structured six-week development programme where they identify goals, recognise strengths, create practical workpieces, develop confidence and support one another's progress. Following the initial programme, members continue meeting in their cohort groups where they share opportunities, develop projects, solve problems together and support new members entering the process.
11 - How does Work It Out address the challenges created by AI and automation?
Work It Out recognises that artificial intelligence and automation are changing the nature of work across almost every sector. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, participants are encouraged to use AI positively to explore opportunities, develop ideas, create projects, build businesses, strengthen employability and generate new forms of income. The programme helps people prepare for the future rather than simply react to it.
12 - What outcomes are measured?
The programme tracks a range of practical outcomes, including employment, self-employment, training participation, confidence, wellbeing, community involvement, social connectedness, income generation activity and personal development.
Alongside these measurable outcomes, Work It Out also focuses on creating stronger communities where people support one another and continue developing opportunities long after formal delivery has ended.
13 - How does the programme become sustainable?
Work It Out is designed to grow through community ownership rather than ongoing dependence on external funding. Over time, participants become mentors, champions and facilitators. Local partnerships develop naturally. New members are introduced through existing networks. Opportunities are shared within the community and new initiatives emerge from the relationships that are formed.
The result is a sustainable local infrastructure of support, encouragement and opportunity that continues long after the initial pilot period.
14 - What is the investment?
The annual pilot partnership investment is £20,000 and includes two licensed facilitator places, initial training, twelve months of development support, monthly national learning sessions, coaching and mentoring, programme resources, promotional materials, monitoring tools and full participation in the national Work It Out ecosystem.
The aim is not simply to deliver a programme but to create a lasting community asset that continues generating value for years to come.
15 - What is the long-term vision?
Our vision is to create a nationwide network of Work It Out communities where people support one another, create opportunities together and ensure that nobody faces life's challenges alone.
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, economic uncertainty and rapid change, we believe that strong communities, supportive relationships based on kindness and collective action will become more important than ever. Work It Out provides a practical framework for making that vision a reality.
Work It Out - Building Communities Where Everyone Succeeds and Nobody Gets Left Behind.
Work it Out! is part of Diversiton and is non-profit making.
Copyright © Diversiton 2003-2026 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Copyright © Diversiton 2003-2026 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
