Meaningful Employment for Refugees in London
The Pitch
Problem statement
Refugees flee war, violence, persecution and climate crises. Yet, once in the UK, they face a multitude of barriers to integrating and building a new life in their communities. Studies show that employment is a key factor for integration, but refugees are four times more likely than the overall population to be unemployed – a result of barriers including; long gaps on CVs caused by the asylum process; employer misperceptions about hiring refugees; racism and discrimination; lack of awareness of UK workplace culture and hiring practices; insufficient English language skills. We also know that the growing cost of living crisis will disproportionately impact the refugee community.
Solution
Breaking Barriers aims to support our clients on their employment journeys by equipping them with the skills and opportunities to access stable and fulfilling employment. Your funding will support our Employment Programme, which includes: • 1-1 Employment advice and guidance from employment advisers like CV writing, interview preparation and job searching. • Education support tackling key barriers to employment like English language and digital skills. • Partnerships with local businesses to help clients build skills, gain work experience and access mentorship opportunities. This support helps clients gain the skills and confidence needed to independently navigate the UK job market.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Breaking Barriers has supported 1,600+ refugee clients in London since 2015. Through our unique partnership model, we have demonstrated social investments in pathways to employment for refugees deliver strong outcomes for refugees, companies and partners alike. Furthermore, our success is not possible without our talented Employment and Integration Advisers who each support a caseload of ~30 clients. Their experience, language skills and personal connections with clients ensures everyone receives the necessary support to achieve their goals. Your donation will help us to retain and build our team of advisers, allowing us to support even more refugee clients this year.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Direct delivery costs (including salary costs for Employment & Integration Advisers) | £2,500 |
| Support costs (including communications, finance & rent) | £500 |
Beneficiaries
325 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
With your support, we can reach 325 refugee clients through our London Employment Programme during the grant period. We want to deliver 3,000 hours of 1-1 employment support over 6 months. Our primary measure of success is seeing clients move towards the goal of accessing meaningful employment. We aim that 33% of clients progress into employment, education, volunteering or training. We also measure soft outcomes, helping us work towards long-term change so clients can continue their journeys independently. • 80% of clients feel more confident or motivated to achieve their long-term goals • 80% report improved understanding of UK workplace culture • 80% report better chances of finding a job The need for our services in London is greater than ever, with 160 clients on our waiting list. We must ensure our team is equipped to move these clients into support. With your help we can reach more refugees in London to date, using our bespoke model to help them achieve their employment goals.
Track record
In the context of the ongoing cost of living crisis and challenging environment for the refugee community, we are already offering vital support and are committed to doing more to meet growing demand for our work. Last year, we worked with 1,104 refugees across the UK – more than any previous year. We saw 610 outcomes achieved by clients who progressed into employment, education, volunteering or training. One client told us: “When I found Breaking Barriers, they helped me in so many ways. I had personalised mentoring sessions that helped me to improve my application and interview skills. My caseworker helped me to arrange sessions with professional volunteers to advise on what is needed for the jobs I was applying for. I’m now employed in a permanent full-time paralegal role, and it feels incredible to see how far I have come. Breaking Barriers has helped me to feel part of a community and less alone, and I look forward to rebuilding my future and being able to help other refugees.”