- Up to 10,000 Ukrainians will receive support to learn English
and advance their careers
- £11.5 million of Government support is being provided to
support Ukrainians arrivals to rebuild their lives
- On Ukrainian Independence Day, UK Government reaffirms
ongoing support for the people of Ukraine
Free English lessons and help to improve their job prospects are
on offer to up to 10,000 Ukrainians to help them rebuild their
lives in the UK, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities has announced.
The £11.5m support package – announced on Ukrainian Independence
Day (August 24) - will help more Ukrainian arrivals across
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland integrate further
into their communities whilst in the UK and help them progress
their careers here.
The intensive language programme will include nearly 20 hours of
online English learning a week over a period of 10 weeks, while
additional employment support over 12 weeks will include advice
on how to find jobs, CV writing and application support, as well
as one-to-one interview practice.
Half of Ukrainian adults have already found employment since
arriving and this support aims to increase the number of people
in work and help those in employment to enter higher-skilled and
better paid jobs, in turn helping to grow the workforce and the
UK economy. When the time comes to return to Ukraine, the
language skills, experience of working in the UK and workplace
training will also assist with rebuilding their home
country.
This is part of a wider package of support including £150m
funding for local authorities to house Ukrainians in long-term
accommodation, and increased ‘thank you’ payments of over £650m
for Homes for Ukraine British hosts.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness,
said:
“Ukrainian Independence Day is a time to celebrate Ukrainian
culture and traditions, as well as our shared values. It is also
a sombre reminder of the need to continue to support our
Ukrainian friends in their fight against Putin’s barbaric
invasion. We continue to stand in solidarity with
Ukraine.
“These new English Language and Employment support courses add to
the package of wider government support in place to help
Ukrainians find work and settle into our communities while it’s
not safe to return to Ukraine.”
Charity World Jewish Relief in partnership with the British
Council, has been chosen to run the ‘STEP Ukraine’ courses and
tailored employment support sessions. They are aiming to train up
to 10,000 Ukrainians within a year – making it easier for them to
live independent lives in the UK.
Following feedback from Ukrainian guests, the courses are online
so that people with young children, caring responsibilities, or
shift workers, can take part from anywhere in the UK.
Paul Anticoni, CEO of World Jewish Relief,
said:
“We are proud of the difference that World Jewish Relief has
made, and will continue to make, in providing essential support
for those forced to flee by war.
“This much-needed programme will enable us to offer
transformative language and employment support in partnership
with the British Council to thousands more Ukrainians seeking to
rebuild their lives in the UK.”
The new English and employment courses come as the Government
reaffirms its commitment to helping Ukrainians settle and rebuild
their lives in the UK on Ukrainian Independence Day.
In honour of their Independence Day, the Ukrainian community has
organised festivities in cities across the UK. Groups such as the
Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain held traditional music
concerts, prepared traditional meals, and arranged family events
to celebrate their heritage and culture. This is a time to
celebrate our shared values and show our enduring support for the
people of Ukraine.
Petro Rewko, Chair of the Association of Ukrainians in
Great Britain (AUGB), said:
“On 24th of August, we will celebrate the Independence
Day of Ukraine. Although Russian aggression and the invasion of
Ukraine continues, we will still celebrate Ukraine’s independence
to mark the occasion.
“We once again wish to thank the UK and, most of all, the UK
public for their kind generosity in opening their doors as
sponsors, and for the humanitarian aid, the millions they have
given to help Ukraine.”
Check eligibility to sign up for
STEP Ukraine courses.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
World Jewish Relief delivers employment services to forced
migrants in the UK and has operated in Ukraine for 30+ years.
Since the war 16,500+ displaced Ukrainians in Moldova, Poland and
the UK have been supported to learn languages and find
employment.
The award-winning Specialist Training and Employment Programme
(STEP) serves 1,000+ refugees each year achieving a 40%
employment rate and of those 95% have sustained job outcomes (6
months+). The existing STEP service has already supported 500
Ukrainians in the UK, since April 2022, with a 46% employment
rate and highly skilled job outcomes. This new Government funded
STEP Ukraine service will aim to support up to 10,000 within a
year.
