Two charities are to hire more than 300 staff to fill roles for a £11.5m programme to offer Ukrainian refugees in the UK intensive English language and employment support.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has awarded the contract to World Jewish Relief (WJR) working in partnership with the British Council, to provide support for people in the UK who have fled the war in Ukraine.
They will offer up to 10,000 Ukrainians across the UK intensive English language and employment support courses for free and delivered virtually.
WJR, which currently has 33 employees according to the Charity Commission website, is recruiting 122 employment advisors for the programme.
Meanwhile, the British Council, which has nearly 10,000 staff, is appointing more than 200 teachers for the programme.
To deliver the programme, which runs for 12 months, WJR has begun scaling up its existing specialist training programme.
‘Critical programme’
Paul Anticoni, chief executive of World Jewish Relief, said: “I am especially proud that World Jewish Relief has been appointed to deliver this crucial programme for Ukrainians in the UK.
“It’s a ringing endorsement of the unique talent and expertise we have within the team at World Jewish Relief as well as the close working relationships we have built with our partners on the ground in Ukraine over the last 30 years.”
From listening to feedback from Ukrainian guests, WJR said it designed the courses to be online and accessible so that people with young children, caring responsibilities, or shift workers, can take part from anywhere in the UK.
It comprises 10 weeks of daily English classes run by the British Council, and 12 weeks of employment support with a WJR employment advisor, to assist with CV writing, job applications, interview prep, skills training and job search.
Scott McDonald, chief executive of the British Council, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with World Jewish Relief to deliver this critical programme.
“For many Ukrainians, escaping war and travelling to the UK will only be the first step on a long road to a new life. At the British Council, we know that learning English unlocks life changing opportunities, both in the UK and around the globe.”
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