The City & Guilds Foundation has agreed to join forces with four charities that offer assistance to refugees in the UK, pledging £150,000 to support those in need.
The financial aid will help Breaking Barriers, Routes Collective, The Launchpad Collective and Positive Youth Foundation to aid more than 100 refugees in developing skills and finding sustained employment.
The money will also help employers to recruit and aid refugees – a group of individuals who often possess critical skills that are being overlooked.
This comes at a time when City & Guilds research shows that 54 percent of 18-24-year-olds from a refugee background feel they will never be able to reach their professional aspirations due to the lack of opportunities and the hostile environment of the job market.
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When asked what would help them to unlock better career opportunities and achieve their ambitions, the top three responses included; more flexible courses to allow them to study around their responsibilities (27 percent), access to financial support for accommodation or travel costs for work experience and training (24 percent), and for employers to make the workplace more welcoming (24 percent).
Faiza Khan MBE, Director of Corporate Affairs & Foundation at City & Guilds said: “Skills development is at the heart of what we do, and we firmly believe that skills are for everyone.
“So, we are proud to be supporting these charities who are doing great things to develop the skills and careers prospects of refugees.
“I am looking forward to seeing the difference these programmes will make to people directly, the organisations they are working with, and how together supports the human and social threads that make up our civil society.”
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