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Project: Pathways to Employment for the Tamil Refugee Community
Area: Colliers Wood

Funding body: ALG Co-financing Programme

The Pathways to Employment project is run by the South London Tamil Welfare Group, based in Colliers Wood, serving the needs of the Tamil community in south London for over 20 years.

The project started in January 2005 and runs until March 2007 with the aim of focusing on employability among the Tamil refugee community in south London; predominantly those living in the borough of Merton and the near vicinity. It is a two year project co-financed by the ESF (European Social Fund) and the London Councils; they have received a time released grant of £180,000 over two and a quarter years. This pan-London funding programme is managed by GLE Consulting Services and participating organisations have also benefited from GLE capacity building services.

The overall purpose of the project is to promote a better social and economic future for the Tamil community in south London and support their progression into sustainable employment.

OUTPUTS

• Enabling beneficiaries to have access to ESOL (English for Speakers of Ohter Languages) classes

• Pre entry one class offered to beneficiaries whose levels of English are very low

• All beneficiaries are offered ICT training

• Employment training; confidence building, motivation, time management

• CV preparation and writing

• Interview techniques training and support

• Access to work placements at local businesses/schools

South London Tamil Welfare Group is working in partnership with Merton council, HTEC (Horizon Training and Education Centre), Merton College, Lambeth council and GLE oneLondon Business Advice Service South Central. Merton council offers self employment workshops and advice sessions for beneficiaries on the project who live in Merton and are interested in becoming self employed.

HTEC and Merton College provide ESOL classes for all beneficiaries on the project ranging from entry one through to level two. Lambeth council provides employment opportunities for people with refugee status who are living in the borough and the GLE oneLondon Business Advice Service South Central offers free one to one self-employment advice and workshops.

OUTCOMES

• 93 beneficiaries on the project to date

• 46 beneficiaries on the project at present

• Eight beneficiaries completed project and outcomes achieved for all – either in full/part time employment or in further education/training programmes

• 24 hard outcomes achieved to date; one person in full time employment, two people in part time employment, two people are in self employment, 12 people are on courses and seven people are on work placements

• 11 soft outcomes achieved – all of these people who left the project early went into either full/part time employment

• 28 early leavers throughout this period – 13 have continued onto further education/training programmes and 15 have gone into unemployment.
  
  Results take time but if the beneficiaries possess commitment and drive then they are able to measure the long term results by the time and effort they put in.
  
  If you are interested in finding out further information please contact the South London Tamil Welfare Group on 020 8544 1248 

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