|
|
|
Case study LC7 (2004)
Mentoring Refugees into Employment
Leeds Metropolitan University
Meg Message, Community Partnerships Manager
Room C513, City Campus
Woodhouse Lane
Leeds LS1 3HE
Tel 0113 283 2600 ext 3946
Email m.message@leedsmet.ac.uk
Context
Mentoring Refuges into Employment was introduced into the programme of HEACF-funded projects in the University in January 2004. It followed a decision made to extend existing volunteering activities to develop a strategic and sustainable theme in support of the refugee community in Leeds. Up to 5,000 refugees settle in the West Yorkshire region annually, many of these in the Leeds area. A recent regional skills audit showed that 33% of refugees coming into the area had been educated to degree level and more than half of the refugees interviewed were based in Leeds.
Local refugee community organisations were contacted to help identify ways in which HEACF funding of volunteering could benefit this disadvantaged community of refugees. Mentoring support was identified as an effective means of supporting refugees to achieve their education, training and employment aspirations.
The rationale of the project was to develop a long-term secure relationship with this community, while continuing to achieve the targets specified for the HEACF project.
Programme detail
The project aims to enhance the employability of Leeds-based refugees through individual mentoring provided on a voluntary basis by staff of the University. Vital to the operation of the project is the partnership with three agencies in the city:
- Refugee Council, Leeds provides advice and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees.
- Refugee Training Advisory Service (RETAS) is a charity offering advice and help in areas of education, training, employment and re-qualification for local refugees.
- St George's Crypt is renowned in Leeds for work with the homeless and provides a drop-in and support centre for refugees and asylum seekers.
Terms of reference were developed with the project partners and a steering group formed.
The project was promoted via the University website and through a newsletter publicising ACF voluntary activity in the University. Some of the volunteers were targeted and individually approached, as an important element of the project is to match mentors and mentees with a similar professional/academic background, although this is not compulsory.
Participating refugees were carefully briefed and referred to the project from St George's Crypt and, at a later date, from RETAS and from a local FE college. The criteria for participating refugees are that they must be:
- actively seeking or wanting employment
- vocationally/professionally qualified and/or experienced
- moderately competent in English.
An enhancement to the mentoring arrangement is the opportunity for the refugees to have guest membership of the university library and to be provided with initial support in the use of this large resource.
Mentoring partnerships are reviewed after a period of six months and the project is monitored and will be evaluated by the steering group, with participation from the main stakeholders.
Training and support
Training days were delivered to volunteer mentors in January and March 2004. Speakers from the Refugee Council and RETAS provided in-depth information and advice on working with refugee communities. An external trainer delivered a practical session on mentoring skills. Packs of supporting information have been compiled and distributed to the mentors.
At the same time, a Mentor Support Group was established to provide support, advice and encouragement to the mentors and to enable them to share and feedback their experiences. All mentors are encouraged to refer difficult queries which arise during mentoring sessions to the steering group to investigate, using their combined areas of expertise. A great deal has been learnt from dealing with queries and sharing knowledge and this will help to support future pairings.
Outcomes and sustainability of the project
Since the launch of the project, interest in it within the University and the local community has rapidly grown. By August 2004 16 pairings had been formed and a growing list of volunteers.
Good working relationships and a network of contacts have been developed with refugee community organisations in the city. This has led to a successful bid for funding, with local partners, to investigate and audit the barriers that face refugees in accessing HE. This will build upon the University's widening participation strategy to target under-represented groups entering higher education. The project leader, representing the University, has been invited to contribute to the regional strategy for refugees and asylum seekers.
The practical outcomes up to now have centred on the mentees being given guidance and support in submitting job applications, course applications, attending interviews and in seeking relevant work-shadowing and volunteering opportunities. Many of the refugees are keen to upgrade their qualifications on the path to returning to their former professions. The mentors have been well placed to assist them with this process.
One unquantifiable aspect of the project is the pleasure reported by mentees in being made welcome in a university environment and feeling comfortable in being able to use university services such as the library or even the coffee bar.
Awareness of refugee matters has been increased across the University and there is a growing interest in implementing other areas of support and research.
Students will shortly begin to participate in the project by volunteering to provide conversation sessions. Discussions are taking place with the newly formed Student Action for Refugees (STAR) group of the students' union.
This project is possibly unique in involving university staff in volunteering activities with this particular client group. Mentors have reported positively on their experiences and the insight and knowledge they have gained of the refugee asylum-seeker situation. Mentoring skills are transferable to their working situations. In particular, the University has formed a working partnership with the Refugee Council in Leeds and discussion with them is now taking place about developing a model that can be rolled out to other universities.
Hints and tips
- Be clear about expectations and boundaries.
- Take advice from the experts about sensitivities.
- Provide support for the mentors.
- Build in monitoring and evaluation.
- Observe confidentiality.
Click here to view further case studies in this category: Links with the community
Click here to view further case studies linked to: Asylum seekers/refugees
Click here to view further case studies linked to: Staff volunteering
Click here to view further case studies linked to: Sustainability
Click here to view further case studies linked to: Vulnerable and non-participating groups