Falkirk CIC provides free training to help Ukrainian refugees

A series of workshops and training courses are being offered by Community Focus Scotland, a community interest company that aims to reduce poverty and unemployment.

The Falkirk-based organisation, which was set up in 2017, has won awards for its efforts helping people into work, while investing its profits back into the community.

For this new project it has joined forces with Nawaz Haq, owner of the Helix Hotel in Grangemouth, where 45 Ukrainian refugees are currently living.

Unlike asylum seekers, who are not allowed to work, people with refugee status can take on employment and several have already found jobs. The hope is that the courses will give them skills and qualifications that will give them a better chance of finding a job.

With a volunteer from the Ukrainian community in the hotel providing translations, courses will include bar licence, food hygiene and first aid qualifications.

CFS CIC director John Tonner said they were delighted to be helping deliver their “tried and tested” employability workshops to any refugee who would find it helpful.

He said: “We have got a bank of courses and they are all properly accredited which is really important.

“Many of those enrolled on this course are from Ukrainian families who, through no fault of their own, find themselves here and like many are struggling.”

When providing training courses, Community Focus Scotland concentrates on areas that are currently seeing big staff shortages, especially construction and hospitality.

However, they also hope to be able to help those refugees who have skills that will be better suited to different jobs.

The aim is to hold a workshop every week, helping people with things such as creating a CV and finding job vacancies. They will also support people as they apply for jobs and, if necessary, help them build up work experience that will lead to permanent employment.

Training officer Donna Murray explains that the idea came after a Ukrainian refugee attended one of CFC’s courses and “there was a bit of a language barrier”.

“We had a bit of a brainstorm and thought ‘could we put something together?'” she said.

CEO Annette Tonner suggested running employability workshops and Mr Haq happily offered support, including the use of the Helix Hotel’s lounge to run the courses.

Mr Haq believes the project could be rolled out across Scotland to meet the demand.

He said: “I am here to facilitate this and to lay the ground for something that could be done on a much bigger scale.”

Donna also hopes they will be very successful and will be rolled out to other parts of Scotland.

The courses are funded through ITA (Individual Training Accounts) and if successful they may apply for more funding to extend the programme.

Anyone who is interested in taking part should call 01324 227280 or email [email protected].