Over the past year, we have consulted with staff, volunteers, clients and sector colleagues to develop a career development programme for people with lived experience of the refugee protection system.
We are pleased to share that we are launching our pilot initiatives, which include training, tools and resources to support people with lived experience and their colleagues, managers and sector leaders.
If you’re interested in joining the pilot initiative, please complete our online registration form to express your interest.
Launching our lived experience pilot initiatives
In the autumn of 2023, we conducted research to explore the barriers to career development faced by individuals with lived experience of the asylum system and of having refugee status in the UK. Our findings led to the creation of a pilot programme featuring 17 different initiatives — the first of its kind in the sector!
Following 10 months of research with colleagues from across the sector, this pilot programme aims to tackle major barriers to career development through three main outcomes:
- Objective one: moving the dial towards embedded anti-racism on systemic, sector-wide level
- Objective two: building a holistic ecosystem of support through strong line management and inclusive, accountable recruitment.
- Objective three: building individual skills, confidence, and aspirations
Each pilot is designed to support and empower people with lived experience and improve the support systems around them. This includes initiatives for staff without lived experience as well. Some of the pilots include:
- Developing anti-racist leadership
- Training for managers on leading career development
- Evaluating inclusive recruitment practices
- Improving English Language skills
How to get involved
There are initiatives for people with lived experience of the refugee protection system and for their managers and colleagues, so everyone is welcome to get involved in the programme.
If you would like to get involved in the programme, please complete our registration form by Wednesday 11 December and we will be in touch with you soon. ■
If you have any questions about our lived experience career development project, please get in touch with Abi Long.
