Breaking Barriers strives to provide opportunities for the most marginalised individuals in our communities, refugees, to gain long-term, meaningful employment to help their successful resettlement. In doing so, we not only help the refugees rebuild their lives, but their successful integration will strengthen and cohere our local communities. Breaking Barriers partners with organisations to find refugees work placements, apprenticeships and/ or full-time roles that are commensurate with their skills, experience and qualifications, with the aim of overcoming the aforementioned barriers.
Disaster Relief
As of 2013, the UK had over 125,000 refugees. There are over 20,000 new applications for refugee status every year. Refugees have higher levels of education, skills and qualifications than the UK average, an eagerness to work and the majority are of working age (ICAR, 2003). Given these characteristics, refugees should have a great deal to offer the UK. However, unemployment levels amongst refugee communities are often over 50%, compared to 6% for the national average. This is due to a number of barriers that are specific to refugees for gaining employment. These include: a lack of British work experience, a lack of knowledge of British workplace culture and norms, discrimination and difficulties with recognition of skills, qualifications and experience. This forces many refugees into the informal labour market in unskilled, low-paid and often dangerous jobs. Additionally, refugees are social excluded in our communities, preventing their assimilation and integration into UK society leading to community weakening and fragmentation.
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