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Refugee Employment

86 years ago, we helped 10,000 Jewish children escape Nazi Europe. Today, we've helped 10,000 Ukrainian refugees, honoring our Jewish value to Welcome the Stranger.
Refugee Employment

Specialist Training and Employment Programme

In 2016 we launched STEP, providing personalised support for refugees in the UK, enabling them to enter sustainable and meaningful employment. The programme is adapted to each individual’s needs and helps refugees gain language skills, qualifications and training. Our employment advisors provide one-to-one assistance in CV writing, interview skills, finding work or setting up a business.

 

STEP Forward

This programme aims to address key barriers to integration specific to women refugees in line with recognised integration frameworks (UNHCR 2020; Home Office Integration Framework 2019). Through this holistic, tailored programme women refugees are empowered to gain independence, make informed decisions about their lives, improve health outcomes, and move towards employment, and a fully integrated life in the UK.

This programme has supported 120 women across Leeds, Bradford and Coventry.

STEP Ukraine

STEP Ukraine is an intensive, virtual, 12-week English language and employment programme for Ukrainians in the UK. It is designed to help you find meaningful employment in the UK and improve your English.

The programme is funded by the UK Government and is completely free for all participants. It is open to anyone from Ukraine who is over 18 and arrived in the UK on either the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme, or is on the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

You can join if you are unemployed or if you have a job but are hoping to move into more relevant employment. We can also support people interested in self-employment.

Refugee Employability Programme

Refugee Employability Programme (REP) supports refugees located in the southwest of England with employment (provided by World Jewish Relief) and integration support (provided by the International Rescue Committee). The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) also provides self-employment support where required 

Are you a refugee looking for employment and language support?

If you’re looking for help finding employment in the UK, have a look at our STEP handbook, with all the resources you’ll need to get you started.

STEP stories

We are the largest provider of refugee employment support in the UK

Tetiana, Ukrainian Refugee

STEP Ukraine: Tetiana

Tetiana is from the now devastated Ukrainian city of Mariupol. When Russian troops invaded, she fled the country. She had no plan, but knew she had to leave. This is her story.

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STEP Forward Participants

STEP Forward: Shukria

Shukria came to the UK in 2021, fleeing the Taliban. Now she plans to go to university and has ambitious dreams for her future.

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Naikmal

STEP: Naikmal

When the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021 Naikmal, the CEO of a women’s reproductive health NGO, was forced to flee. Arriving in Bradford with nothing, he enrolled on STEP.

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STEP: Yanal’s Story

Losing her husband and fleeing war in Syria, Yanal had nothing when she arrived in Coventry with her four children. Learn how participating in our STEP programme gave her the skills she needed to find

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