Pathways to Work (Ethnic Minority Women)

Pathways to Work – Ethnic Minority Women is a citywide employment support programme commissioned by Sheffield City Council and part-funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It is designed to help women from ethnic minority backgrounds, particularly Pakistani women, overcome the unique barriers they often face when seeking employment. These challenges can include limited English skills, cultural expectations around gender roles, lack of confidence, and experiences of discrimination. Many women are also balancing caring responsibilities or recovering from difficult personal circumstances such as domestic abuse. The programme ensures that women who are furthest from the labour market are not left behind, by offering safe, trusted, and culturally sensitive spaces where they can explore opportunities and take their first steps towards work.

At the heart of this programme is Equal Communities, we are an organisation recognised for our deep community roots and track record of success in supporting women who are economically inactive. Equal Communities employs experienced keyworkers who share the lived experiences of the women they serve, bringing empathy, cultural understanding, and credibility to their work. This approach ensures that participants feel listened to and respected, and that the support they receive is relevant to their real-life challenges. Equal Communities’ one-to-one guidance goes far beyond CV writing – it addresses confidence-building, advocacy with families, housing and childcare support, and access to language and digital skills training. By combining this wraparound support with employability coaching, Equal Communities provides women with both the tools and the self-belief to move forward.

Working hand-in-hand with Sheffield City Council, local voluntary groups, mosques, women’s centres, and employers, Equal Communities ensures that women are not only job-ready but supported into meaningful roles that fit their circumstances. Our model creates clear routes into volunteering, training, and employment, with job opportunities ringfenced through partnerships with inclusive local employers. This combination of cultural competence, trusted relationships, and proven results has made Equal Communities a leading voice in Sheffield for tackling employment inequalities. Through Pathways to Work, we are transforming lives – helping women gain independence, achieve financial security, and act as role models for future generations in their communities.‘

Pathways to Work (Ethnic Minority Women)

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