The Partnership
Islington Refugee Integration Service
London Advisory Services Alliance
North of England Refugee Service
Refugee Assessment and Guidance Unit
Refugee Assessment and Guidance Unit supports refugees and asylum seekers with high levels education or professional qualifications, into employment and education. RAGU offers specialist training programmes, work placement schemes and specialised individual advice and guidance. RAGU is also involved in research, training for advisers working with refugees and asylum seekers, producing materials and resources on refugee issues and coordinating HERAN, a network of universities looking to improve university access and support for refugee students.
Living Londonis a four week orientation programme for asylum seekers with a professional or graduate background and with intermediate English or above. Students explore cultural and social issues in the UK and learn about their rights, entitlements, useful organisations and services. They also identify training and volunteering opportunities, while developing their communication skills in a focused way. RAGU has recruited for, and delivered, 2 pilots of Living London and have developed modules on a variety of topics. RAGU consulted the EASI Advisory Group. who provided useful feedback and helped to shape the course content. A third pilot of the Living London course took place later in September 2007.
Volunteer Placement Portfolio Training is a short course for asylum seekers with intermediate English, or above, who are starting a volunteer placement. It aims to help asylum seekers maximise their experience as a volunteer by documenting their volunteer experience and improving their skills in speaking, reading and writing. Students also create their own Volunteer Placement Portfolio which they use as evidence of experience in a UK work environment, to show a UK reference and to present their skills effectively to employers (in the UK or abroad).
Guides for refugees and asylum seekers and for advisers working with refugees and asylum seekers.
RAGU has produced 2 new comprehensive guides for refugees and asylum seekers:
Refugees and Asylum Seekers, an Education, Employment and Training Guide is aimed at adult refugees and asylum seekers and covers information on education, training, volunteering, employment and rights and entitlements. It has been translated into 9 refugee community languages. These are:
Guide for Advisers is useful for mainstream advisers working with refugees and asylum seekers. It provides information about immigration status and highlights barriers to education, training and employment experienced by refugees and asylum seekers. It also clarifies the rights and entitlements of these groups to education, training and employment and addresses issues relating to overseas qualifications and re-qualification.
Both guides are regularly updated to allow for changes to legislation and to incorporate feedback. Top
EASI learns with RAGU:
Address: London Metropolitan University 236 - 250 Holloway Road London N7 6PP