Family Early Help
Do Ukrainian Refugees Have a Right To Work?
Yes they do. This is because the UK Government has granted them leave to remain for up to 3 years.
How Can I Help a Ukrainian Family to Find Work?
In order to work in the UK, the person will need a National Insurance number (NI number).You cannot work or receive benefits without your NI number. If the person has a biometric residence permit, the NI number should be printed on that card.
You can find more information about obtaining an NI number or a biometric residence permit here:
Biometric Residence Permits and National Insurance Numbers | Family Early Help (camden.gov.uk)
Developing English Language to Support Access to Work
The person may also want to explore developing English language skills in order to get ready for employment. You are entitled to free English language tuition if you are unemployed and looking for work.
You can contact the Camden ESOL advice service to register for ESOL support here:
https://www.camden.gov.uk/camden-esol-advice-service
Finding Work
To get help with finding work, support the family to get in touch with their nearest local Jobcentre Plus (job centre) who will assign a work coach. To find the nearest job centre for the family, enter their postcode on the Department for Work and Pensions website
Good Work Camden have a dedicated jobs hubs advisor for Ukraine refugees. Contact Andreia Cardoso (on Outlook) or Good Work Camden Good Work Camden | Camden Council
If you have any questions or issues around potential employment, you can also get help from one of our Jobs Hubs. To register for this, visit the Camden job hub website, call 020 7974 1666 or email [email protected]
You could also provide information about the wide range of employment support in Camden. You can find more details here
Childcare to Help with Accessing Work
There is a wide range of childcare options for working parents, including Good Work Camden's childcare offer and subsidised early education places for low income families.
see here for childcare for 0-4s Childcare | Family Early Help (camden.gov.uk)
and here for childcare for school age children Wraparound Care and Holiday Care | Family Early Help (camden.gov.uk)
Claiming Back Cost of Childcare
You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.
You (and your partner if you live with them) will usually need to either:
- be working - it does not matter how many hours you or your partner work
- have a job offer
You apply for this through your Universal Credit account.
There is also an online calculator to work out how much you can claim Check what help you could get with childcare costs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
and more information about claiming back childcare costs here Understanding Universal Credit - Children and childcare
you can also use this online calculator to work out exactly which childcare funding you might be eligible for Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK
Other London Organisations Support Refugees to Find Work
And here are some London organisations who provide employment and training support for refugees:
Health Prom Open Doors
Weekly meetings for migrant women seeking guidance on accessing employment in the UK.
Breaking Barriers
Supports refugees (with status) into employment. They provide advice and guidance on finding a job, and English language training, including business English, IELTS, English for Work and Customer Services English. They run workshops and work in partnership with businesses to develop recruitment routes for refugees.
http://breaking-barriers.co.uk/
CIRCLE Project - Groundwork
Circle is a Community Integration project. Sessions include ESOL and conversational English, expert employment advice (job search support, guidance writing CVs, interview practice, workshops on UK work ethics, with employment drop-ins for personal action plans in Hackney, Angel and Wembley, various days/times), social-cultural activities such as cooking, crafts, gardening and furniture upcycling. They are based in Hackney, Angel, Barnet and will soon be delivering activities in West London
https://www.groundwork.org.uk/projects/circle/
Hope for the Young
Offers help to young people up to the age of 25, removing obstacles to refugees’ and asylum-seekers’ education through mentoring and financial support.
https://hopefortheyoung.org.uk
Laamiga
Community-based and run charity run by women for women from migrant and minority backgrounds who want to become financially independent and gain more meaningful employment. Includes mentoring and training
Micro Rainbow
Offering integration and employment advice for LGBTQI Ukrainians
Connecting UK sponsors with LGBTQI Ukrainian Nationals - Micro Rainbow