In 2023, we proudly welcomed our first Trainee Programme Officers into the Experts by Experience and Partnerships Team (formerly the Good Practice and Partnerships Team) here at Refugee Action. As part of our ongoing commitment to creating more inclusive opportunities, these roles were designed specifically for individuals with lived experience of forced migration.
We previously wrote about why we were creating these opportunities and how we approached designing them – you can read that post here.
The Background
The Trainee Programme Officer positions were created to break down barriers preventing individuals with lived experience of forced migration from accessing leadership roles. Through this initiative, we aimed to diversify our team and ensure it better reflects the communities we serve—refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
In the design of these roles, we consulted with various stakeholders, including individuals with lived experience and our HR team. Changes were made to ensure the recruitment process was more inclusive, such as removing the UK work experience requirement, clarifying job expectations, and ensuring strong line management support. Flexibility around working hours and adjusting recruitment processes were additional steps taken to make the opportunity as accessible as possible.
The recruitment process was thoughtfully designed, offering information sessions and providing interview questions in advance to ensure candidates could prepare and feel confident. This approach attracted a broad range of applicants, including those with international experience, resulting in a positive and inclusive process.
In February 2023, we welcomed our first trainees, Mona Elias and Maryam Bahar Sadat and now we have recently bid farewell to our second cohort of trainees, Hassan Hussain and Maria Gribenyuk. Before they left, we asked them to reflect on their experience with us. Their insights offer a valuable perspective on the traineeship journey and the impact it had on their personal and professional development.
Maria’s Reflections
Background and Role:
Maria, a recent graduate, has a deep passion for supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Her journey has been shaped by her first-hand experience as a service user and volunteer at Refugee Action. This background helped her develop a strong understanding of the challenges refugees face.
Favourite Project:
Maria particularly enjoyed leading the Mediation Skills Training project. Taking ownership of the process from start to finish was a rewarding experience for her. It was gratifying to see her team engage with the training and to be able to organize it successfully.
Development Experience:
Maria found the development opportunities in the traineeship to exceed her expectations. The program was tailored to her interests, helping her expand her skills and gain invaluable knowledge. She found training opportunities such as Emerging Leaders and Anti-Racism particularly impactful in her growth, both personally and professionally. The continuous support and collaborative team environment helped her feel confident in seeking help and growing.
Role Fit:
Maria likened her role to training in the gym—it wasn’t too easy, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly difficult either. She was able to apply her transferable skills but also recognized that the role provided a chance to update her knowledge and align it with current practices.
Recruitment Process:
Maria had a very positive experience with the recruitment process, appreciating the clarity and transparency. She particularly liked the removal of the UK work experience requirement and the information sessions that helped bring the role to life.
Key Achievements:
Maria's key achievements include securing the role and becoming more proactive in taking initiatives and responsibilities within the team.
Key Learnings:
Through this traineeship, Maria learned about her own capabilities and how others perceive her potential. It was an eye-opening experience that increased her confidence.
Recommendations for Improvement:
Maria suggests increasing the number of trainees and structuring them as smaller teams for better collaboration. She also recommends encouraging trainees to spend more time in the office initially, to foster stronger relationships and smoother integration into the team. Lastly, she recommends extending the duration and weekly commitment of the traineeship for a more comprehensive experience.
Message for Other Organisations:
Maria believes that creating similar traineeship programs is incredibly important as it can be life-changing, offering refugees and asylum seekers opportunities to gain valuable skills and make a positive impact in their communities.
Hassan’s Reflections
Background and Role:
Hassan is a community health nurse by training, with a deep commitment to humanitarian work. As a Trainee Program Officer in the Explore, Adapt, Renew program, he focused on engaging with Experts by Experience (EBEs) and co-producing projects that addressed the needs of refugees and asylum seekers.
Favourite Project:
Hassan's favourite project was the Experts by Experience Project Planning course. This course emphasized the importance of co-producing projects with EBEs, and Hassan applied these lessons to successfully plan Refugee Action's conference and navigate the housing co-discovery project, which he co-led.
Development Experience:
For Hassan, the traineeship was a significant recognition of his skills, giving him an opportunity to gain validation in the UK job market. The tailored development opportunities have increased his confidence and comfort in pursuing further career opportunities, despite previous challenges in having his international experience acknowledged.
Role Fit:
Hassan found the role a mix of engaging tasks and challenging responsibilities. His previous experience in Sudan allowed him to engage with the easy tasks, while the more challenging aspects fostered his growth, boosting both his confidence and his learning.
Recruitment Process:
Hassan found the recruitment process to be the best he had ever encountered, appreciating the ability to share his strengths in a written format rather than relying on a CV. He also valued receiving the interview questions in advance. However, he noted that delays in receiving IT equipment and a lengthy onboarding process made it difficult to fully engage initially.
Key Achievements:
Hassan is especially proud of developing and delivering a sprint project based on a participatory approach. This experience will be a valuable skill in his future career.
Key Learnings:
Hassan learned how to apply empowerment strategies for marginalized populations, complementing his theoretical understanding of participatory approaches in social justice and wellbeing.
Recommendations for Improvement:
Hassan recommends expanding similar roles across different departments within Refugee Action (e.g., fundraising, admin, media) to build a stronger LEX leadership pipeline. He also suggests extending the traineeship’s duration and commitment to provide a more immersive learning experience.
Message for Other Organizations:
Hassan believes that while such programmes may have a higher cost, the impact on individuals’ lives and the wider community is immeasurable. Creating opportunities like this can lead to powerful change and build leadership among individuals with lived experience of forced migration.
Conclusion
Both Maria and Hassan’s reflections highlight the importance of creating tailored development opportunities for people with lived experience of forced migration. These roles give individuals the chance to grow, contribute, and lead meaningful change within the refugee sector. Their experiences show the profound personal and professional impact such programs can have, both for the individuals involved and for the broader community.
“The EAR traineeship programme has been hugely successful, reaffirming what we already know: a structured and proactive approach for potential talents from a lived experience background is essential if we are serious and want to realise access to employment and growth for people with lived experience.
The reality is that people in the asylum system face significant disadvantages both during their asylum process and after being granted leave to remain. With no right to work and limited (or no) access to further education, their potential is often stifled. Even when granted the right to remain, individuals struggle to secure employment. This is due to their qualifications and experience from their country of origin often being unrecognised, leaving them in a state of limbo. Even those who gain UK qualifications find themselves at a disadvantage due to limited networks and a lack of ‘know-how’ to secure their first roles in the UK.
We are delighted to have provided this opportunity through the programme—an initiative that benefited both the individual and the organisation through the exchange of skills and knowledge. However, the challenge lies in the sustainability of retaining (or supporting further) talent within the context of an unpredictable funding landscape.” Mohamed Omar, Head of Experts by Experience and Partnerships
We are incredibly grateful to all those who helped us create these opportunities, and to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding the Explore Adapt Renew Programme. There is much exciting work happening in the sector to create employment pathways and leadership development opportunities for people with lived experience of forced migration, and we hope this traineeship scheme can continue to contribute to that important work.