Providing refugees and asylum seekers assistance with access to education, re-qualification, training and employment to help them better integrate in their communities.

The Challenge

Refugees face multiple complex barriers to employment:
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  • English not being a first language and a lack of confidence in their English language skills
  • Lack of knowledge of cultural and job market differences - e.g. CV writing, cover letters, interviews, job hunting culture
  • Lack of UK work experience and opportunities to gain work experience
  • Lack of recognition for qualifications and education from their home country
  • Employers' lack of awareness/ understanding about leave to remain, documentation and right to work, refugee recruitment, retention and progression

The Solution

Refugee Education Training Advice Service (RETAS) helps refugees overcome multiple barriers to refugee employment, along with PATH Yorkshire, through the Aspire part of the New Roots Project.  
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​Our Matrix accredited education and employment advisers are here to assist with your social and economic integration into the UK.

We provide advice and support with:

Exploring:
  • Career paths and options and establishing a plan to help reach goals
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Accessing:
  • Higher Education and University and other vocational training courses
  • Volunteering opportunities at both RETAS and relevant organisations to your interests and career aspirations
  • Work placement, work experience opportunities & apprenticeships
  • Opportunities to improve English, Maths, IT skills and other skills 
  • Study and work based opportunities to support with requalification ​of a role carried out in a different country

​Completing:
  • Job applications in a way that most effectively demonstrates skills and experience with a variety of search tools, including Find a Job
  • Successful and tailored CVs by highlighting key skills and experience developed both in the UK and abroad
  • NARIC process to translate qualifications completed outside of the UK​
  • Interview & assessment centre preparation and practice​
Most importantly, we support individuals to realise their potential and develop their confidence.

Courses

As part of the Aspire aspect of New Roots, RETAS can help individuals to both access, and fund training courses relevant to their career development. One of the key courses, which we run at the RETAS office, is IELTS. 

IELTS at RETAS

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and measures English language proficiency for those who want to study or work where English is used for communication. It is scored on a scale of 0-9 on Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking and different scores are required for different professions/ institutions of study. You can find more information on the test here.​

RETAS runs IELTS preparation courses on a rolling basis throughout the year.
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Assessments take place on a rolling basis and classes can be joined once the assessment has been completed. This prepares you for the academic IELTS exam as well as improving your all-round speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. 

Eligibility for free course and test:
  • Refugee Leave to Remain Status (and dependants/ spouses)
  • Humanitarian Protection (and dependants/ spouses)
  • Family Reunion (and dependants/ spouses)
  • Discretionary Leave to Remain (over 12 months and as a result of an asylum claim) 
  • Indefinite Leave To Remain (provided they have been through the asylum process) 
  • 18+ years

Structure of the course and expectations
  • Students will attend classes once a week for three hours. 
  • Taught by an experienced, qualified teacher.
  • You will be required to do homework every week

​If you would like to join the class, you must first complete an IELTS assessment.

​Please visit RETAS (Roundhay Resource Centre, 233-237 Roundhay Road), call on 0113 3805630 or email fidelis@retasleeds.co.uk to book your assessment.
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Referrals

Who is eligible for this project?

  • Refugee (and dependants/spouses)
  • Humanitarian protection (and dependants/spouses)
  • Family reunion (and dependants/spouses)
  • Discretionary Leave to Remain (over 12 months and as a result of an asylum claim)
  • ​18 years +

Who can refer?
  • Can refer yourself if you are a newly granted refugee/ family reunion partner  in need of support
  • Can refer a friend
  • Organisations and services can make referrals to our project 

How to refer?
For more information on the New Roots Project at RETAS, Please contact the RETAS Office or email RETAS CEO roger@retasleeds.co.uk​

How can you help?

Providing Opportunities

As part of this project, we are trying to build relationships with local and national education providers, local and national employers and local charitable organisations in order to provide opportunities to our service users.

​If you are from an organisation or company that are or would like to offer work experience, volunteering experience or training opportunities and think that RETAS service users would benefit from these, please contact us on:

- info@retasleeds.org.uk
- 0113 3805630