World Jewish Relief secures new government deal to help refugees
Leading Jewish charity will aid Ukrainians and Hong Kongers now in UK to obtain employment here
World Jewish Relief has won a major new government contract to supply training and employment opportunities for Ukrainians and people from Hong Kong.
The new programme, in partnership with the British Council, will offer Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, and an estimated further 4,000 Ukrainians fleeing war, a comprehensive support package, including one-to-one sessions with dedicated employment advisers and assistance with CVs, cover letters, job applications, and interview preparation. High-quality English classes will be taught online by expert British Council teachers, tailored to learners’ levels.
The announcement of this prestigious new contract comes just months after the conclusion of two previous government programmes delivered by World Jewish Relief – STEP Ukraine and STEP Ahead. Both programmes provided displaced individuals and those seeking sanctuary with specialist and personalised employment support and intensive English language training, in partnership with the British Council.
In total, more than 14,500 people (about 14,000 Ukrainians and 500 individuals of other nationalities) took part in the programmes, both of which had significant success. A recent survey of STEP Ukraine participants found that 65 per cent had secured employment since completing the programme, significantly enhancing their integration and prospects in the UK.
Former participants include Alex Lidagovsky, a prominent Ukrainian sculptor whose studio was destroyed during the conflict. Seeking sanctuary, Lidagovsky was supported by the STEP programme to establish himself in the UK. He has since secured high-profile commissions and has been accepted by the Royal British Society of Artists. Another beneficiary is Oleksandr Pohodin, helped by World Jewish Relief, who now runs his own boxing gym in Sheffield.
Paul Anticoni, chief executive of World Jewish Relief, said: “Our previous programme transformed the lives of thousands of people who were forced to flee from their homes. They were equipped with the skills and confidence to find meaningful employment and integrate into UK society. Building on that success, we are ensuring individuals from Ukraine and Hong Kong, who have resettled on UK government schemes, have access to the tools they need to thrive. At the heart of our work is a commitment to helping people not just to survive but flourish—values that have defined our 92-year history of supporting communities under fire.”
Scott McDonald, the British Council’s chief executive, said: “World Jewish Relief are experts in supporting refugees and displaced people, and the British Council brings experience in learning, skills development, and English language teaching. Working in partnership we bring together expertise and experience that creates an extremely powerful programme for people who really need help.”
World Jewish Relief is inviting Ukrainians resettled in England under UK government schemes and Hong Kongers with BN(O) status, who are over 18 and based in England, to join the programme by registering today at www.worldjewishrelief.org/step, calling their freephone on 0800 319 6089, or by emailing step@worldjewishrelief.org.
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