Brief Description

Sona Circle is a non-profit social enterprise based in the UK which connects refugees with local opportunities; enabling refugees and asylum seekers to develop their skills and gain employment to support their livelihoods.

By working with employers to create employment opportunities for refugees within their local communities, our model addresses the issues of education, labour force participation and social integration.

To date, Sona Circle has created over 200 opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers. We partner with over 30 refugee organisations in the UK whilst building a community of over 35,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the UK alongside mentors, volunteers, aid organisations and employers.

Vision & Mission

Our mission in 2021 is to create up to 200 new employment opportunities for refugees in the UK and we now need your support to achieve this ambitious target.

The vision of the programme is to give refugees the chance to experience innovative working environments, which they otherwise might not have the chance to experience, and to combat the largely elitist work placement system that exist currently in our country.

This employment programme enables refugees to gain and perfect essential skills, build confidence while also improving language skills and benefiting from cultural exposure and inclusion.

Aims & Activities

In order to achieve this, the plans in place to ensure that the venture continues to deliver social impact and is sustainable are as follows:

-	Create short-term and long-term job opportunities for refugee families affected in the UK through the Sona Circle recruitment platform for refugees which aims to create 200 jobs and opportunities in 12 months.
-	Creating awareness about the need to support refugees through organising the SonaTalks 2020 event entitled: Creating Opportunities for Refugee Communities’.
-	Expanding our online community of refugees and asylum seekers through social media, Sona Circle App and email subscriptions which will enable us match the jobs which are created with the most suitable candidates.
-	Provide training courses for refugee owned business and professional skills (industrial apprenticeships) through our partner organisations which include Code Door, Code your future, the entrepreneurial refugee network and Manchester Refugee Support Network.

Facts & Figures

                            Sona Circle’s mission is to create 200 new employment opportunities for refugees in the UK in the next 12 months.

We connect with employers at exciting and innovative start-ups, with the skilled and dependable refugee workforce currently seeking employment in the UK, who fit their required skills. 

We provide information and training opportunities to support employers to understand the differences between refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants and where employment restrictions apply.

We can also support employers to access clients from our project who are job-ready, with a minimum expectation of a short work placement followed by a guaranteed interview for a genuine job opportunity. We aim for sustainable employment for the candidates but we only ask employers to provide a level playing field.
                            

                            In 2015, we witnessed the worst forcible displacement of people since World War II. Four million Syrian people were displaced due to conflict in the region as were an increasing number from African countries affected by violence and political unease, such as Sudan. More than three million people arrived in Europe fleeing violence and persecution. 

According to the United Nations, by the end of 2018 there were 126,720 refugees and 45,244 pending asylum cases in the UK. 

The refugee unemployment rate in the UK is 18% (more than four times the British population which is 3.9%). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation is now far worse than ever before.

Sadly, the systems in place in the UK were not able to adequately integrate refugees into UK workplaces and social systems. Refugees and asylum seekers settling in the diverse cities, still struggle to secure employment. 

Sona Circle Recruitment restores the rights and dignity of refugees by connecting them to employers.
                            

Awards

Start Up Incubator by BSEEN in 2017

Try It Programme by UNLTD in 2018