Four refugees find work through Work Routes

Four jobseekers used the Work Routes service in Cornwall to start their first paid work after arriving in the UK from Syria.

The refugees had several barriers to starting work familiar to most others in their situation – including language difficulties, no UK-based work history and no way of providing potential employers with suitable references.

By using the services of an Arabic interpreter to communicate with them, Mohammed, Mostapha, Khaled and Ghayath’s Work Routes Employment Adviser established the type of work they were looking for and what their key skills and work experience entailed.

It quickly became clear that each of the four had a passion for the outdoors: each had gardening experience and a variety of associated skills. In order to equip them with relevant work experience, their Employment Adviser managed to secure them voluntary parks maintenance work with Truro City Council.

Their work ethic and determination was quickly noticed by Truro Council’s Park Manager – Richard Budge – who went on to offer them permanent, paid work as Assistant Maintenance Operatives.

Richard said: “These four gentlemen began work with us on a volunteering basis – and they worked really well. They had great work experience from Syria and I was delighted to offer them full time positions in the Parks Department.

“Volunteering at a company is a great way to show your dedication, and it is excellent experience to add to your CV. It has certainly led to better things in this case.”

Figures released in September 2018¹ show that 7,300 people in Cornwall were recorded as being unemployed. Work Routes is a programme funded by The European Social Fund (ESF) and offers people completely free, one-to-one employment support; job searching; interview practice financial assistance with child care and travel; and support in dealing with other potential barriers such as housing or lone parenthood. As well as a one-to-one Employment Adviser, ESF Work Routes offers participants an in-house Skills Trainer and a Health and Wellbeing Adviser to help them address employment barriers such as mental and physical health issues, diet, mindset and a lack of skills.

The service is delivered throughout Cornwall by Reed in Partnership, with offices in Redruth, St. Austell, and Truro and outreach in Falmouth; as well as a range of local partner organisations covering Bodmin, Bude, Saltash and Redruth.

Work Routes is delivered in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and funded the European Social Fund.

Visit workroutes.co.uk for more information on their employment service.

 

1-  https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157349/report.aspx#tabempunemp