Skilled forklift truck driver gets job with Yorkshire Charity

Mo, a lorry and bus driver from Iran, his wife and two children arrived in the South Yorkshire town of Barnsley seeking safety, just over four years ago. It was a stressful time for them. They knew nothing about the area where they had been sent to, were struggling to speak English and understanding Yorkshire accents and sayings was difficult.

They found support from Refugee Council within a week. Mo said: “They help us very good. They help my daughter to find a school and advice to my older son. We don’t have dress [clothes] for winter so they help. I found the men’s group and joined. I could find new friends.”

Once their refugee status and permission to stay was confirmed, Mo and his family were elated and relieved. But Mo then faced his biggest challenge. Despite having many years of work experience driving 1000’s of miles in Iran, Mo struggled to get a job because he found understanding English hard and lacked confidence speaking it.

I try to get work first of all as a bus driver, because my job in my country was lorry, coach and bus driver.

Mo said: “I try to get work first of all as a bus driver, because my job in my country was lorry, coach and bus driver. I am a qualified driver, for HGV and forklift trucks. Finding the work for me was difficult because I couldn’t speak [English] very well.”

Mo was hugely frustrated, he just wanted to use his skills to do a useful job and support his family but he needed help to overcome the barriers he faced.

Andy, a local man from Barnsley, is a volunteer and runs the men’s group for Refugee Council. It was at this group that Andy met Mo.

“Mo had his residency status. So I was keen to know what he wanted to do, what was his road and his chosen path. He always shared with me he wanted to be a driver. So I spent ages trying to get him work experience but there was barrier, barrier, barrier.”

Andy didn’t give up. Eventually he saw an opportunity with FareShare Yorkshire (a British charity network tackling food poverty and reducing food waste) that was offering training tailored to the individual’s needs. It was exactly the support Mo needed so that he could start using his experience and skills and flourish as a member of a team.

They are great people at work.
- Mo

Mo is now a supervisor at the Leeds branch, where he is highly valued. Mo said: “They are great people at work. Especially the manager, [Sam] the guy that is in charge. He is very friendly to me and brings me into all sorts of things.”

Sam Mo’s Manager at FareShare Yorkshire said: “Mo has quickly integrated himself as a vital member of our team. He adapts to any given task quickly and does so with a smile on his face. I can rely on Mo to work at any of our 3 sites, drive a van, or anything else that may be required of him. He is a true asset and I'm incredibly thankful to have him around.”

He is a true asset and I'm incredibly thankful to have him around.
- Sam (Mo's Manager)

Andy said: “Mo personifies what we are trying to do. This country needs HGV and forklift truck drivers. So in my own little way to contribute to our economy is to help Mo to connect to the right job, use his skills and he is now helping the economic character of the place. He is contributing big time to the local economy.” ◆

At the Refugee Council, we see a Britain where refugees find safety and have a fair chance to rebuild purposeful, happy lives, contributing to our communities. If you would like to support our work, please consider making a donation today.