More than 10,000 Ukrainian refugees have benefited from the work of the east of England’s Strategic Migration Partnership (SMP).
Families forced to flee the country following the Russian invasion have been helped by the partnership, in collaboration with regional councils, in being resettled through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, as well as given a variety of support to rebuild their lives in the UK.
This includes support learning to speak or improve their English and assistance in finding work or setting up businesses.
Louise Gooch, Projects Manager at the Strategic Migration Partnership, said: “Thousands of refugees fleeing Ukraine have been welcomed to the east of England since the beginning of the conflict.
“The SMP’s work supports the councils where they are living as well as creating a new life here for them and their families.
“Through the work of the Strategic Migration Partnership, refugees are supported in becoming employed and economically active members of their communities here in the east.”
The SMP’s support includes last year’s Wellbeing and Work for Refugees (WW4RI) project, which helped hundreds of refugees find work, enter education or set up as self-employed here in the region.
The project included helping refugees take English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) driving theory courses, with more than 400 taking part.
Huge efforts have also been made to support Ukrainian graduates to enter International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Occupational English Test (OET) language courses.
This allows them, once passed, to continue graduate-level employment in the high-skills sector.
The SMP has also helped refugee doctors and medical professionals take higher level English courses, giving them opportunity to practise here in the UK.
The WW4RI project’s successor, Employability for Overseas Nationals (EON), continues to support people gain employment in the region, with a particular focus on recruitment into social care.
Louise added: “We are very proud of our work supporting Ukrainian guests who have fled the trauma of war in their home country.
“The EON project looks to build on the huge success of the WW4RI project, helping even more Ukrainians make the region their home.”
For more on the EON project, see https://smp.eelga.gov.uk/migrant-workers/eon/