Boosting Community Participation in Job Assistance Programs

In March 2025, Camden Council and the New Economics Foundation (NEF) embarked on a 12-week test and learn pilot to engage Camden residents with disabilities and poor health who are out of work. The pilot, which took place in Camden, England, was part of the Cabinet Office's Test, Learn, and Grow agenda, advocating for a user-centered design approach.

The National Health Service (NHS) was the organisation involved in the pilot between March and May 2025. The user-centered design approach, featuring rapid feedback and iteration, was led by a multidisciplinary team. This innovative methodology aimed to discuss support available in the borough, including employment opportunities for Camden residents with disabilities and poor health who are out of work.

The report produced to provide a comprehensive account of the pilot and its outcomes details the background and context for the test and learn pilot, the process followed, insights gained, and outcomes achieved. The report is intended to serve as a resource for policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

The report provides insights and outcomes of the 12-week pilot. It suggests how the learning and experience from the pilot could be applied in other parts of the country and through national-level policy and practice. The report is available for download as an accessible Word document.

The pilot employed a user-centered design approach, featuring rapid feedback and iteration, led by a multidisciplinary team. The Cabinet Office's Test, Learn, and Grow agenda advocates for this user-centered design approach used in this pilot.

The report on the Camden Council and NEF's test and learn pilot is a valuable resource for those interested in understanding how user-centered design can be applied to support disadvantaged groups in accessing employment opportunities. It offers a unique perspective on the challenges faced by Camden residents with disabilities and poor health who are out of work and provides practical insights into how these challenges can be addressed.