The region’s Strategic Migration Partnership is appealing for more people to become volunteer mentors to support young refugees and asylum seekers in education in the UK or adult refugees with overseas qualifications looking for work.
The East of England Local Government Association’s Strategic Migration Partnership (EELGA SMP) is urging people to consider becoming a mentor, either in the public sector or at a charity, to help young people rebuild their lives after fleeing conflict or persecution overseas.
Ferzana Kusair, High Skills Employment Advisor for EELGA SMP’s Employability for Overseas Nationals (EON) project, said: “The mentoring we provide at EON is for people who know and are qualified for the role and want to know how they can get back to work.
“Most professions need registration, a level of English and some kind of examination to get back into practice in the UK, which can be a barrier.
“We are looking for mentors in tech, engineering, architecture, as well as pharmacists, nurses, lawyers and more on the corporate side, like accountants.
“We want to reach out to any potential mentors out there who want to make a difference to the lives of overseas people.”
Among the many charities seeking volunteer mentors is Refugee Action, a charity set up to help refugees build safe, happy and productive lives in the UK.
Michele Ward, the charity’s Pathways to Work Manager, said they were struggling to find mentors in construction, science, English, maths and architecture.
She said: “It’s a common misconception that refugees and those seeking asylum are looking for entry level jobs, they are often very highly trained and educated.
“One gentleman we have mentored secured a job with British Airways as an aerospace engineer, and another is now a project manager at ITV.
“They are just looking for some support in finding work and advice on how industries in the UK work.”
Refugee Education UK (REUK) is a charity that equips young refugees to build positive futures by thriving in education, matching mentors with young people to help them attain their qualifications.
Andrew Cooper, Head of Education Thriving at REUK, said they had around 80 young people on their waiting list for mentoring.
“Mentors can provide support with education, in maths and English for example, but also in building confidence, how to use basic IT systems, how to fill in forms and write letters.
“Our educational mentoring programme provides crucial support to young people living in a completely new environment,” he said.
“They act as a role model for the young person, supporting them in accessing the services they need.”
For information on EELGA SMP’s Eon project, see https://smp.eelga.gov.uk/migrant-workers/eon/
For more on Refugee Action visit https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/pathways-to-work and for more on Refugee Education UK, see https://www.reuk.org
- Anyone in a profession who could mentor a qualified adult refugee in the same sector, please contact: Louise (East of England) or Michele (rest of the UK)
- Anyone who can mentor a young person with their UK education, please contact: Andrew at ReUK
Case studies
Here’s a link to The Bell Foundation video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSWtMEgKNwU&list=PLoFvKa9dRKjf87FjnDXXN23EOmmIsAB0C
Refugee Education UK (The Bell Foundation video)
Angel Nakhle, 20, Law student
Angel was supported by a REUK mentor to gain a place at university.
“I’ve been in the UK for eight years, I came in 2015 with my family,” she said.
“I had a bit of a struggle accessing education, higher education specifically.
“I was just in college and had no one, in that sense. I just applied on my own, tried my luck, and, in the end I wasn’t very successful because I didn’t know what the universities wanted and what they were looking for.”
Angel said she had achieved “more than she wanted” in her A-Levels, helping her get into the University of Warwick to study Law.
She added: “So I think I wouldn’t be here without their (REUK) support at all.”
Sam Pordale, Politics and International Studies student, from Afghanistan
Sam has gained a place at The University of Warwick after being supported by the REUK mentoring programme.
“I study Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick. It has been one year and 11 months since I have been in the UK.
“I joined REUK’s mentoring programme when I came to the UK.
“The first thing we did was get me a mentor because I speak English but had real issues with my writing skills.
“My mentor helped me with my writing, my personal statements, with universities, with my essays.
“One of the reasons I am at the university at the moment is because of the essay I wrote, and she helped me with my essay.”
Abdul Ghani Yayha, 27, from Sudan
Abdul, from Sudan, came to the UK on May 28, 2021, and is now a Functional English student.
“I joined the mentoring programme because I came to the UK but it’s very difficult when you come to a new country, you don’t have anyone to guide you.
“Before I had a mentor I didn’t have many things and also didn’t know how the education system works.
“But when I had a mentor I learned a lot of things, I improved my English, gave me confidence and improved myself.”
Refugee Action – case study
A budding dentist, who wishes to remain anonymous, is just one of the refugees supported by charity Refugee Action.
“My mentor at Refugee Action played a crucial role in supporting my education and career journey in the UK,” she said.
“Despite facing unforeseen circumstances that led to my departure from my country before completing my internship and obtaining the final certificate, she guided me through the various paths to return to dentistry in the UK and helped me understand the necessary exams.”
After researching dental courses at more than a dozen universities, she discovered her previous qualifications were the equivalent to those required in UK – if she could carry out more clinical experience.
“My ultimate aspiration is to enhance my clinical and research skills to become a qualified dentist and eventually specialise as an orthodontist,” she added.
“Throughout my journey, I’ve been fortunate to receive invaluable support from my mentor and Refugee Action.”