My Story as a REP Volunteer: Waleed

The Home Office Refugee Employability Programme (REP) supports refugees into sustained employment by providing individually tailored employability sessions, English language tuition, and help with job applications and access to vocational training. 

REP offers volunteering opportunities to service users to support them on their employment journey. During their time volunteering on the programme, service users can support with activities such as translation, events and appointments.

Waleed is just one of those volunteers, and this is his story.

Waleed’s Background

I am Eritrean but I was born in Saudi Arabia; I came to the UK in 2022. Shortly after my arrival, I joined REP to support me in my journey to employment, improve my English and learn more about the UK and its laws.

Waleed’s Volunteering Journey

I applied for REP’s Volunteering programme to better my English, meet new people and be more active within the local community. I also saw it as an asset to my CV.

During my time Volunteering so far, I have been supporting Employment Advisors by using my interpretation skills during appointments with service users. The volunteer work has not only been helpful in overcoming some of my personal work barriers as I have been able to speak to more people but has also improved my English knowledge. Also, observing the Advisors help service users has given me a greater understanding og the support that exists for refugees.

I am interested in Warehousing roles currently and plan to apply for these when I have completed my volunteer work, however in the future I would like to be a technician. I feel that the volunteering work I have done so far has already helped me in becoming more confident in speaking to people, which is a valuable employability skill.

I am looking forward to continuing to help more people on my volunteering journey and becoming more confident and active within the community. I would recommend REP’s volunteering programme to any refugee who is seeking a volunteering experience, it’s a great opportunity and it will help you to meet more people.

Find Out More 

If you would like to find out more, visit the Refugee Employability Programme website or email rep@growthco.uk. 

Get In Touch 

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a mission to generate growth, create jobs, and improve lives. We offer employment services across Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire and Humber. 

Get in touch today to find out more.