DR LES

The Derby Refugee Learning Education and Skills (DR LES) project recruited specialist learning and support officers and volunteer accredited mentors to help service users in training or employment.

 

The project

Up until 2008, the DR LES project focused on delivering one-to-one specialist support to refugees across the east Midlands to assist them to:

• access education and training opportunities
• obtain employment appropriate to their individual and family circumstances and career goals.

The support included:

• providing information, advice, guidance
• advocacy and signposting services
• linking clients with the relevant support networks and organisations.

The DR LES Project formed highly productive partnerships with existing providers of education and training and other local support services. A particular strength was the development of links with local business and employer networks across the city. This has opened up career opportunities for our clients at some of the most prestigious local employers.

 

Delivery of the project

In discussion with the client, Learning Support Officers produced and delivered an individual learning support plan tailored to meet the client’s needs, aspirations and goals. The plans mapped out activities and coordinated the services needed to keep clients on track with their career paths and study routes. Delivery of the plan was achieved through engagement of a broad network of partnership organisations across the city.

A mentoring team provided individual support and guidance to clients to support the delivery of the individual learning support plans. The main role of the mentors was to befriend, guide, coach and to share experiences with clients. Mentors all had specialist expertise in areas such as education, job search or employment and attended training at Derby University, receiving accredited training.

 

Funding

DRLES was funded by Big Lottery, European Refugee Fund and match funded by MST.

 

Evaluation

In 2005 the Home Office employed a professional consultancy business to undertake a detailed evaluation of the DRLES Project. This resulted in the Project scoring a 5 star rating (on a scale of 1 to 5) and being awarded ‘Beacon Status’ by the UK Home Office. The evaluation also suggested that similar projects could be usefully developed in other cities across the UK.

The project helped participants to gain a total of 184 qualifications. Within six months of completing their training, over half of them had found a job.

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