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From arriving in the UK with next to nothing, to establishing a successful business. Read how three Ukrainian women have joined forces and rebuilt their lives in Elmbridge Ukrainian sunflowers It was mid-June and there were just a handful of days before the Wimbledon tennis championships began at the All England Club. At a house just around the corner from the famous old venue a race against the clock had begun, as the Sunflowers gardening team set about transforming a front and back garden. “We only had a few days to get it done before they closed the roads for the tournament so we knew the project had no chance to fail,” Alyona recalls. “It was challenging as there was a lot of concrete to dig up in the garden but we did it in time. It was quite funny, too, as the neighbours walked past and watched our progress each day. At the end, some of them asked for our number as they were impressed with the job. It was a really interesting project to work on.” Sunflowers was set up by three Ukrainian women, who moved to the UK not long after the Russian invasion in the Spring of 2022. Alyona was working as a project manager in the construction sector of the real estate industry in Kiev when the war broke out. She moved to Surrey with her young family under the government’s Homes for Ukraine programme and soon became involved with Elmbridge CAN. “I used to live in America so settling in a new country has been ok for me,” she explains. “This time I was forced to leave so that was a bit different but the British people, and Elmbridge CAN especially, have offered us an enormous amount of support. I’m super grateful to everyone I’ve met here. When I first arrived here I focussed on volunteering with Elmbridge CAN, helping with paperwork for the other Ukrainians coming over.” She soon met Lena and Tetiana, friends from Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, and it was not long before they were hatching plans to find a way of contributing in their host country. “While working with the people who came here from Ukraine, I was thinking about what we could do and what helps,” Alyona continues. “Working outdoors together doing gardening is good for mental health and it unites us, doing something together. Most of us used to have families with houses back home which had gardens. My Mum lives in a house with a big garden, it is like an allotment, so we had flowers in the front and in the back we grew vegetables. I helped in the garden since I was three years old, so I know how things grow. I love the taste of organic fresh fruit and growing flowers is quite inspiring.” With plenty of green spaces in their new surroundings there appeared to be an opportunity to develop a hobby into something more serious. “I noticed that many British people have gardens to enjoy nature,” Alyona adds. “So I started talking with the girls in the hub and we decided we should do something. We all liked gardens so it was a perfect match for us!” The three women began by working in the gardens of some of the volunteers they had met at Elmbridge CAN. After settling on a name for their fledgling business, the company was registered and marketing began with some adverts on Facebook and a word-of-mouth campaign that quickly grew. Initially, the garden work was restricted to general maintenance and tidying but it was not long before more ambitious projects were undertaken with a full range of landscaping services. “Lena is a designer, so she can do full landscape design for any project,” says Alyona. “Tetiana is good with the accounts and can also work with plants. Sunflowers has spread mainly through word-of-mouth since we completed our first job. We do a high-quality job. Lena would never leave a single leaf on the lawn, she’s a perfectionist! “It’s all year round, too. We do maintenance, planting, irrigation, projects for gardens that you want to transform, we can do everything. We have up to five people on call so the business can manage everything. I see enormous potential with this.” Their work extends beyond horticultural skills. Sunflowers also offers fencing and lighting services to enhance the gardens they work on, with an emphasis on creating harmonious and functional spaces. At the Weybridge Community fair this summer, a landscape design exhibition attracted many visitors. Sunflowers was proud to take part in the event, which brought together designers from all over the country with the main theme of the exhibition focussing on environmentally-friendly landscaping and the use of natural materials. As Sunflowers continues to grow, the three women are proud of what has been achieved in a relatively short space of time since their lives were turned upside down back in early 2022. And, as their untimely clash with the lawn tennis championships proved, they are more than happy to take on any gardening challenge that is laid down in front of them. For more information on Sunflowers’ work and availability you can visit www.sunflowers.design .

Elmbridge CAN offers a range of free activities specifically designed for displaced people. What's on Elmbridge CAN offers a range of free activities specifically designed for displaced people. There are lots of other sports, social and cultural activities that you can participate in - many of them free of charge - in your local area. Elmbridge CAN activities We offer regular drop-in English classes during term-time, as well as a weekly hub where displaced people can come to ask questions and access our support. For more information and to register with us please email contact@elmbridgecan.org.uk . Other activities in the community Gym and swimming Running and walking Yoga Tennis For teenagers Cycling Cultural activities Gym and swimming Gym memberships, swimming and exercise classes are available at the XCel Leisure Complex and Hurst Pool . They offer a free 3-month membership for displaced people. After the initial 3 months, you can get a 20% discount on membership. There is a women-only swimming session on Saturdays 18.00-19.00 at Hurst Pool. Back to top Running and walking Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog or run 5 kilometres (or volunteer or spectate). It takes place every Saturday morning at 9.00 across multiple locations. Our Parks also offer free running and fitness classes in parks across the UK. Back to top Special group activities Elmbridge Borough Council Our local council runs different wellbeing activities, as well as specialist groups for resettled people. You can join in activites such as local walks, tennis, yoga and cricket. Find out more and get involved. Mary Frances Trust Mary Frances Trust is a charity which offers wellbeing activities, such as yoga and walking, community groups and courses throughout the year. Find out more about the Mary Frances Trust and how to register for their activities. Women's groups Some local groups meet and are a safe environment for women and children only. Multi-Connections group Holy Trinity Claygate Church, KT10 0JP Alternate Saturdays in term-time 11.00 -12.30 Sisterhood group Wednesdays 12.30-14.30 St John's Church Walton, KT12 3JQ Yoga Yoga is more than just an exercise class. It has been proven to help with trauma symptoms. The local classes below offer a discount for displaced people (see also Mary Frances Trust above). Sport in Mind charity offers free yoga at the Xcel Leisure Centre on a Wednesday 12-1pm. You can sign up here . Yoga with Ruth in Weybridge Yoga with Florendia in Walton and Weybridge Yoga with Uzma in Cobham Back to top Tennis Displaced people in Elmbridge (and any Elmbridge residents in receipt of benefits) are eligible for a FREE tennis pass to use at any of the 12 sites operated by Parks Tennis in Elmbridge. Send an email to sign up: parkstennis@elmbridge.gov.uk . Back to top For teenagers There are a number of activities that are run especially for teens. Here are some of the local schemes - many of which are free of charge. Virtual youth space for Ukrainian kids: sessions run from 18.00 to 19.00 on the first and third Thursday of every month. For more information e-mail: ukrainiansupport@barnardos.org.uk . Football with Chelsea FC: free football training for boys and girls from age 11-17, in a variety of locations across Surrey. It is run by Premier League Kicks, funded by the Premier League through the Premier League Charitable Fund. Complete the form here (y o u can select a time and location). XCel Leisure Complex in Walton runs drop-in sessions for teens age 11-16. Contact them direct for more information. Claygate Youth and Community Hub provides free sessions for teens on Tuesdays 18.00-20.00 and Thursdays 19.00 to 21.00. They also offer youth sport sessions on Wednesdays from 18.00 to 19.30. See their website for full details. Foley Boxing Club for both boys and girls, is run by the Metropolitan Police at Imber Court, Molesey KT8 0BT. There is a charge of £5 per class, but ask for a concession if you cannot afford it. Please contact Lee Martin on 07957 829030 for more information and to book. Back to top Cycling We often get bikes donated and we can also teach people how to ride if required. Bikes are subject to availability. Please send an email to materials@elmbridgecan.org.uk to let us know your needs - age, height etc. Back to top Cultural activities Hampton Court Palace offers £1 tickets for eligible individuals. For more information and to book online visit their website . Many galleries and museums in London are free to visit. There are so many to choose from. Visit London has lots of ideas and suggestions for cheap days out. If you need help accessing any of the services on this page, then please get in touch. Back to top

Olena and Tetiana: stories of hosting Ukrainians in Elmbridge Tetiana's and Olena's story ‘I have learnt how fortunate I am,’ Diane insists. ‘When I think something in life is a bit of a nuisance, I think “How dare I”. I have enjoyed everything about having them here.’ ‘We can’t imagine what they have been through,’ says Bob. ‘I love the fact that so much is happening all around us,’ Cathy adds. ‘We’ve gained far more than we’ve lost.’ Hosting Ukrainian families in the community here in Elmbridge has been a profound experience for those who have done it. Opening up a home and welcoming others into the family takes courage but it is also a hugely rewarding experience. ‘I’d been thinking about it for a while and I was in the lucky position of having space,’ Diane continues. ‘I had followed the war in the news and had been in touch with Elmbridge Council to say I’d be interested in having somebody. I had a phone call one day and I was introduced to these three people.’ These three are Tetiana and her two children, Alex (15) and Daria (11). They lived in Vinnytsia, a city in central Ukraine. When the war broke out on 24 February 2022, Tetiana’s husband stayed behind to join the military. A bomb landed at the military base just three kilometres outside the city on the first day of fighting. ‘It was six o’clock the next morning when we left,’ Alex recalls. ‘We travelled to Chernivtsi, which is a city near the Romanian border. I was the guy with the map and I had to lead two cars. I was sharing the map reading with Nikita, we’d do four hours each at a time. I was trying to figure out where to go. Across the border we found a city about 50 kilometres away.’ Nikita is a year older than Alex. He has a younger brother, Mike, who is eight, and they travelled in convoy with mum Olena, who owns a travel agency with Tetiana back in Vinnytsia. The two families are close but nothing could have prepared them for the epic journey across Europe which lasted over two months. Taking in Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Belgium and France they travelled over 3000km to reach the safety of these shores. ‘We never thought about coming to England at first,’ Alex explains. ‘I’ve always wanted to study abroad, I learnt English when I was four, then I started to learn French. I never thought about coming to the UK because it’s so hard to get a visa. I tried to learn some Czech on the way here but I didn’t really like it so I said to Mum, “Let’s go to America”. She said, “How are we going to go to America with this car?” Then Mum found on a Facebook group the Homes for Ukraine programme in the UK and we applied for that.’ Diane’s son and two daughters live locally and have been very supportive. She is a former primary school headteacher who retired from her most recent role as a director of a counselling charity and had lived alone in Weybridge for the past six years when she opened her doors to Tetiana’s family. ‘My family consider you part of our family,’ Diane says, as the five of them sit around the garden table reflecting on the events of the past year. ‘We all knew at the beginning that certain things might go wrong but nothing was insoluble and we always talk things through, we’ve become like a close family. Tetiania’s children attend school locally and feel secure and safe in their new environment. ‘Everything is good here,’ says Daria. ‘I love Di because she’s so happy every day and is always joking. Rose is a lovely dog too.’ A mile away in Oatlands, Cathy and Bob have two dogs at their home – Maisie and Lola - and the bustle of more footsteps through the door when Olena, Nikita and Mike arrived in September 2022 has been one of the many positives of this extended family. Cathy is also a recently retired primary school headteacher while Bob is still busy combining work as a part-time lecturer, local councillor and amateur cricketer. ‘After working 24/7 for 40-odd years, I like the fact that people are coming and going all the time,’ Cathy says. ‘We get on really well. When you live with people occasionally some things annoy you but not a lot, to be honest. The better you get to know people the better you can work things out. We eat separately but occasionally at weekends we’ll get a takeaway together or cook together. We love the way our two daughters have embraced the whole thing and there are times when we all go to family events together which is great. ‘We have arrangements in the house to allow independence and inter-dependence. You have to be flexible. Historically we’ve always opened our doors to people. I have two nieces from the United States who both have lived with us for a time, so we’re quite used to that sort of thing. You’ve got to not mind about sharing your house as a home for someone else, and we don’t mind that at all. You become a household that understands how you all work together and that develops over time. And the best thing is Olena’s cheesecake, she makes the best cheesecake ever!’ ‘The dogs love having more people around,’ Bob adds. ‘Olena and the boys tend to fit in with what we do. We have little rules about the house to stop things like eight-year-olds traipsing through the house with muddy shoes from the garden, but that’s part of life! I have taken both boys to an Arsenal match and we’ve also been to see their school performances. Early on I asked Mike what his teacher was like and he said, “So, so!” I don’t think he’d have learnt that turn of phrase in the Ukraine.’ ‘They help our boys with their homework sometimes which is great,’ Olena reveals. ‘I love this family and it’s an amazing place to live. For Nikita, who is older, it was difficult to settle at first but Mike doesn’t want to go back to the Ukraine, he loves it here. He does football, tennis, gymnastics, everything. We are lucky with this family as our life depends on the environment here in this home.’ Olena and Tetiana are embarking on new careers too. After leaving the travel business behind they are taking their first steps into landscape gardening after initially working at their hosts’ gardens and then expanding to the neighbours. ‘I know a lady in Ukraine who is a biologist and I got in touch with her and she helped me out about how to look after plants, treat diseases and make sure they are healthy,’ Olena explains. ‘I have 20 clients here now, and there are nearly ten of us working together.’ ‘It is difficult to plan but maybe our dream could be a landscape design company in the future,’ adds Tetiana. ‘That is the challenge, how can we make our life comfortable?’ Contributing to the community is important for Olena and Tetiana. They left a wholesome life behind and want to embrace the new world as much as possible. ‘When we came here I put my heart into it to make it an interesting trip,’ Tetiana continues. ‘It would have been very difficult to think about the bigger problem of the war in Ukraine. Sometimes I can’t understand what has happened to us and what will happen in the future and when I think about this it’s very bad for my mental health. So I think about what we have here, with Di and other very nice people nearby, my children studying in school, and a lovely garden for us, a safe place where there are no rockets flying over us.’ The war is, inevitably, a constant presence in their lives, with Nikita and Alex paying particular attention to what is happening back home. ‘I have to follow it, my Dad is in the military so I get to know all the news,’ Alex explains. ‘Dad has been in dangerous situations. He has been near the frontline at times. Then Dad started to do a role involving more paperwork so he got moved to headquarters, but he still travels to the frontline at times.’ Out of the most terrible circumstances these two families have formed a lifelong bond with their hosts in the UK. And for the hosts, this has been a fulfilling opportunity to share something incredibly precious: a home. ‘When you ask about living in the same environment, it has to be our house together - all five of us’, Cathy points out. ‘It can’t be “Our house – Bob and I – and you three are living in it”, that wouldn’t work.’ Olena and her boys will always appreciate that. And just a mile down the road, Tetiana is equally thankful that Diane has come into their lives. ‘Di has opened not just her house but also her heart and we thank her so much for that.’

Information about managing your finances in the UK - covering benefits, council tax, assistance with costs related to children, and other sources of support. Finance This page provides information about managing your finances in the UK - covering benefits, council tax, assistance with costs related to children, and other sources of support. You may also qualify for a small emergency grant from Elmbridge CAN - read on for more details. Please note that most of the information below is only relevant if you have permission to remain in the UK. For information about the UK asylum system, including related financial support, see Right to Remain . UK Benefits System If you have access to public funds in the UK, including if you have refugee status or are here under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and you are on a low income, you can get help from the benefits system. You can find information about how to apply for Universal Credit on this government website: Universal Credit . To get information about what help you might be entitled to, you can use a benefits calculator such as Tackling Financial Insecurity Together or Benefits Calculator . If you don't yet have a UK bank account: If a claimant does not have a bank account at the time they are making a new claim to Universal Credit and if there is no option to say they don't have a bank account, the following steps should be followed: during the new claim add 6 zeros (000000) for the sort code and 8 zeros (00000000) for the bank account number - this will need to be done 4 times to progress the claim. If you are receiving Universal Credit, it is very important to keep them informed of any changes of circumstance you have, such as a new address or a new job. Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to get short-term additional help with rental costs from Elmbridge Borough Council through a discretionary housing payment. Information is available on the Elmbridge Council website: Discretionary Housing Payment . Help with Council Tax Council tax is payable on all rented or privately owned houses in the UK. You can find details about how to set up an account on the Elmbridge Council website: Council Tax . Homes for Ukraine Scheme guests are entitled to a 50% discount on their council tax in Elmbridge - you need to let the Council know that you would like to apply for this. All those on low incomes and with recourse to public funds are also able to apply for a council tax discount via the council's website: Council Tax Support . There are also discounts available to all single adult households - you can apply for this via your online account with Elmbridge Borough Council. Additional Sources of Support You can find a list of organisations in Surrey which can help with the cost of living here: Cost of living support . Elmbridge CAN small grants These grants are available on a discretionary basis to forcibly displaced people who are living in Elmbridge and are registered with us. We generally prioritise people with no access to public funds, such as asylum seekers. Grants may be available where there is emergency hardship, or for short-term needs such as school uniform or ESOL class fees. We can also sometimes help with material items such as bikes, and laptops where these are needed for essential study or similar. Please get in touch on contact@elmbridgecan.org.uk if you would like to apply to this fund. Foodbank vouchers and other food help Foodbank vouchers are available via Elmbridge CAN to those in need of short-term help with food and essentials such as toiletries. Please get in touch or visit us at a hub for more information. There are also other local schemes in place to help individuals and families to get food cheaply or for free: The Surplus Market - is open every Saturday and Sunday 11.30 am to 1:00 pm to the entire community at Sunbury Cricket Club, TW16 5PS. Simply turn up, fill your bags and make a donation. The Elmbridge Eco Hub They are based in Walton, have a community fridge and often have free food available to collect, as well as providing other items and sources of support . You do not need a referral - just go along. See Elmbridge Eco Hub for more details . Broadband If you are on a low income you may be able to get cheaper broadband through a social tariff. See Ofcom Social tariffs: Cheaper broadband and phone packages for more details. For general information on how to save money in the UK see Money Saving Expert . Childcare and Costs Relating to Children Universal credit may pay some of your childcare costs when you go to work: Universal Credit childcare costs . Families on a low income may be entitled to free nursery places for two year olds. For more information see: Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds if you claim certain benefits . See Childcare Choices: 15 and 30 hours childcare for more information on government help with childcare costs (15 hours for children aged between nine months and two years, and an additional 15 hours for three and four year olds). Free school meals are available for all children in Reception to Year 2 in a state-maintained school. Free school meals are also available to children on certain qualifying benefits, see Apply for free school meals for how to apply. If your child receives free school meals, then they should also receive some free holiday camp days during the school holidays under the Holiday activities and food programme . Contact your school to ask about this, and speak to Elmbridge CAN if you have any problems. If you have no access to public funds your child may still be able to access free school meals - speak your school to ask, and get in touch with us if you have any problems. School uniforms If you are struggling with the cost of school uniforms, speak to your school in the first instance as they may be able to help you. If they are not able to, please let us know, as we may be able to support you or help you access other sources of support such as The Bridge in Walton or Stripey Stork . Please let us know if you are struggling financially, we may be able to help or refer you to other sources of support.

We published our first full impact report at the end of 2023, sharing how our charity has grown and evolved since its foundation. We now offer a wide range of services to support the full integration of forcibly displaced people, including drop-in hubs, employment mentoring, practical and material support, as well as group and one-to-one English classes. Impact report We published our first full impact report at the end of 2023, sharing how our charity has grown and evolved since its foundation. We now offer a wide range of services to support the full integration of forcibly displaced people, including drop-in hubs, employment mentoring, practical and material support, as well as group and one-to-one English classes. In a nutshell As at January 2024, we were supporting 276 families from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and other countries. We had 250 ongoing support cases, and delivered our services through our network of 108 volunteers and seven staff members. In 2023 our staff and volunteers: Helped 89 families with support and advice on accommodation Supported 53 families to set up new homes Provided 70 job seekers with one-to-one mentoring Delivered 40 hours of tutoring and homework help every week Mentored 10 young people through our collaboration with St George’s College, Weybridge. Read our full report here Seeing first-hand the incredible work that all the dedicated Elmbridge CAN volunteers and staff do... as well as the positive impact the charity has on enabling people to rebuild their lives, and feel welcome and settled in Elmbridge, is truly amazing. I feel so lucky to be a part of Elmbridge CAN's mission, and thoroughly enjoy my volunteer role. Ayshe

Jay recounts how she and her family fled Afghanistan under persecution and were given a safe home in Elmbridge. Jay's story Persecuted in Afghanistan for their religion, Jay and her husband had to make the difficult choice to leave their birth country to protect their family. She had no idea that she would end up in the UK. Theirs is a story of a long journey with tragic loss along the way, yet ultimate sanctuary and integration into Elmbridge, where they finally feel safe.

As the war in Ukraine continues, there is still an urgent need for hosts for Ukrainians - including some who are already in Elmbridge. Become a host To date, over 2,000 Surrey residents have opened their homes to a Ukrainian family. As the war continues, there is still an urgent need for hosts for Ukrainians - including some who are already in Elmbridge but need to move on from their current accommodation. Could you or someone you know offer a safe place to stay? Hosting an individual or a family can be enormously rewarding and there is plenty of support available to both hosts and guests (including financial support from Elmbridge Borough Council). If you are considering hosting and would like an informal chat about how it works, please email us on contact@elmbridgecan.org.uk . You would get the chance to meet a prospective guest/s before making any commitment and would be supported through the process. Elmbridge CAN is not directly involved in hosting displaced people of other nationalities, but there are several organisations who specialise in this. See below some links to useful information for prospective hosts (of both Ukrainians and other nationalities). Useful links for prospective hosts Information on hosting Ukrainians for Elmbridge residents Information on hosting Ukrainians if you live elsewhere in Surrey This Surrey County Council guide has lots of useful information for new hosts or Ukrainian nationals who have recently arrived to live in Elmbridge, covering what you need to know in the first few days Hosting Good Practice Guide produced by NAACOM (The No Accommodation Network) Article on Tips for hosts Specialist hosting organisations RESET : a national organisation tasked with helping to match Ukrainians with UK hosts, as well as other work related to resettling forcibly displaced people, for example via the community sponsorship scheme Refugees At Home and Rooms for Refugees : both charities which connect those with a spare room in their home to forcibly displaced people (of any nationality) in need of somewhere to stay Hope at Home : a UK hosting charity specifically for survivors of modern slavery You can also see our Get help section to find out more about the help available from Elmbridge CAN. Tetiana’s and Olena's story “My family consider you part of our family,” Diane says… “we all knew at the beginning that certain things might go wrong but nothing was insoluble and we always talk things through” Read the full story Hosting a family has been so rewarding – from the joyous sight of Peppa Pig on my staircase when our own family ‘baby’ is doing A-Levels, to sharing experiences, food and culture and helping them learn English. Lesia

This page gives important information to help you find a job. You can also get help from our employment volunteers - contact us or attend one of our hubs to access this support.  Employment It can be daunting trying to find a job in the UK, with systems and a working culture that may be very different to those in your home country. This page gives important information to help you find a job. You can also get help from our employment volunteers - contact us or attend one of our hubs to access this support. Some key steps to success 1. Learn English as quickly as you can This is the most important thing you can do to help you integrate into the local community. 2. Think about your long-term and short-term goals Is there a way to build your interests into your work? 3. Consider training while you are learning English or waiting to find employment Speak to your Job Centre coach about free courses on offer. 4. Prepare a good CV Here are some tips to get you started. 5. Interview Practice Practice makes perfect. Get help to improve your interview skills. 6. Work Experience Having some UK work experience can really boost your CV. By volunteering or doing work experience for free, you can improve your network and it could offer you a way into paid employment. 7. Get online Most recruitment in the UK takes place online and it is important to have some basic IT skills to search for jobs and submit applications online. Local colleges and the Job Centre can help you find a course to improve your skills. 8. Persevere Try not to be too disheartened if you get many rejections or do not hear back after submitting a job application. Looking for a job There are many different ways to find a job. This can vary depending on the type of company or industry you are looking to work in. Generally, large international companies will recruit through their websites or use recruitment agencies, whereas smaller businesses may find staff through word of mouth or by direct approaches. We have collated information about different ways you can find a job. Find out more here: Online recruitment websites Company websites Linked In Ask people you know The DWP Job Centre Recruitment agencies Specialist roles Construction industry Types of employment Employment contracts UK Employment law regulates the relationship between employers and employees. It governs what employers can expect from employees, what employers can ask employees to do, and employees’ rights at work. For more information about Employee rights, please refer to ACAS . Self employment For some people self employment may be the best option. Your skills or your family commitments may mean this works for you. For example, job roles such as gardeners, taxi drivers and photographers often work in this way as they have many clients. Being self employed offers: The chance to choose your own work schedule Self-agency and accountability Personal connection with customers Independence, freedom, being one’s own boss Direct payment from clients There are a number of things you need to consider when setting up a business in the UK. Take a look at this government guide Working for yourself - GOV.UK . You can also seek advice from the Job Centre; business support services and training providers like the The Rebel School . Overseas qualifications You may wish to continue working in a similar role to your former job in your home country. To do this, employers may ask you to provide translated copies of your certificates and qualification equivalency, so your employer can see how your qualifications equate to qualifications in the UK. Sometimes, an employer will do this for you, however, it is often useful to be prepared and have this ready yourself, so you know if your qualifications are correct for a specific job role. ENIC is the UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills and they offer a statement of comparability service. Translation and Certification services: There are many organisations that offer these services. If you require a recommendation, please contact us. UK Education levels When joining a course like ESOL classes at a college, the admissions team will be keen to identify your existing level of English or your qualifications. Many courses and job descriptions will also ask for a specific level of qualifications, for example, GCSEs or equivalent Level 2 qualifications or a Level 3 qualification. This website gives guidance on what the different qualifications mean: What qualification levels mean: England, Wales and Northern Ireland - GOV.UK Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are an alternative way to employment that offer you the opportunity to train as you work, so you can earn a salary while gaining a qualification. Apprenticeships are offered at various levels from school leaver (Level 2 / 3) to Degree apprenticeships (Level 6). They are available in a variety of industries including business, accountancy, healthcare, construction, hairdressing and many more. For further information on how apprenticeships work and different opportunities available please visit the government apprentice information page . Common barriers to work Childcare: For the latest information on how to find childcare and get help paying for it and what to do if your circumstances change, please refer to Get childcare: step by step - GOV.UK . Cost of finding a job: There are costs to finding work that you may find difficult to pay for, for example, work / interview clothing or travel to interviews. The DWP has funds that may be able to support you with these expenses. Please speak to your Job Centre work coach. Loss of benefits: You should not have a lower income by going to work. For up to date information, please check the government’s Universal Credit webpage. Long term unemployment: Restart is a programme offered by the Job Centre, specifically for individuals who have been out of work for more than 12 months. If you think you are eligible for this programme and would like the opportunity to join, please contact your work coach. If you have any specific questions that are not answered here, please attend one of our drop-in hubs or get in touch by email at contact@elmbridgecan.org.uk and we will connect you with one of our employment volunteers. Looking for a job There are many different ways to find a job. This can vary depending on the type of company or industry you are looking to work in. Generally, large international companies will recruit through their websites or use recruitment agencies, whereas smaller businesses may find staff through word of mouth or by direct approaches. We have collated information about different ways you can find a job. Find out more below. Online recruitment websites Many job vacancies are advertised through online recruitment websites. Think about the keywords you put in to search engines like Google to ensure you find the most suitable job vacancies for you. Reed - Jobs and Recruitment on Reed.co.uk, the UK's #1 job site Indeed - Finding a job | Indeed.com Total Jobs - Jobs are our job | Totaljobs Back to top Company websites Most companies and international organisations advertise their job vacancies on their own websites. Search on the internet for companies you know and look on their careers pages. For example: www.jobsatamazon.co.uk www.tesco-careers.com/search-and-apply https://costacareers.co.uk Careers at P&G United Kingdom Back to top Linked In LinkedIn is an extremely popular online professional network that you can use to search for a job. If you set up a LinkedIn profile, you can then use LinkedIn to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn professional skills. Here’s some help with how to set up a profile: How to use LinkedIn 7 Tips On How To Use LinkedIn For Beginners Back to top Ask people you know Most companies and international organisations advertise their job vacancies on their own websites. Search on the internet for companies you know and look on their careers pages. For example: www.jobsatamazon.co.uk www.tesco-careers.com/search-and-apply https://costacareers.co.uk Careers at P&G United Kingdom Back to top The DWP Job Centre The Job Centre works with local employers and training providers to try to help people into work. Attend their job fairs, speak to your work coach and look at the notice boards in the Centre for the latest opportunities. Back to top Recruitment agencies Recruitment agencies can be national or local and offer job vacancies across many industry sectors. They can also specialise in a specific sector. Local agencies give you the opportunity to meet with the recruiters in person and will often have vacancies in the immediate area. National recruiters Request a call back | Michael Page External job board - AMS Examples of specialist recruiters HomeOrganisers | Housekeeper and Nanny Placements - HomeOrganisers Manufacturing & Engineering Recruitment | Martin Veasey Talent Solutions Health and Social Care Jobs | Search Jobs | Safehands Recruitment Milkround | Graduate Jobs, Schemes & Internships Surrey recruitment agencies March Recruitment Leading Recruitment Agency in Surrey & Sussex | The Recruitment Consultancy Back to top Specialist roles Specialist roles may require a different approach when searching for a job. For example, medical professionals, dentists, and teachers may need to undertake a period of retraining to practice in the UK. In the first instance, it is useful to approach the industry regulators to understand the process you must follow for your profession. General Medical Council: Full registration for international medical graduates - GMC General Dental Council: Overseas Registration Examination British Dental Association: Overseas dentists working in the UK Teaching for Internationally qualified teachers: A fairer approach to awarding QTS to overseas teachers - GOV.UK Apply for qualified teacher status (QTS) if you teach outside the UK - GOV.UK For some there are opportunities to receive loans or grants to help fund your training, exams and fees. Take a look at these organisations to see if you are eligible: Ruth Hayman Trust ReAccreditation Loans— RefuAid Back to top Construction industry Construction workers must complete a CSCS course to acquire a card to authorise them to work on building sites in the UK. These courses vary by profession ie plumbers, bricklayers, labourers etc, however the key focus is on ensuring best health and safety practice on site. Applying for CSCS cards | Official CSCS Website Back to top

We are proud to partner with these organisations and are enormously grateful to them for funding our work. We are proud to partner with the following organisations, and are enormously grateful to them for funding our work. Who we work with We are proud to partner with the following organisations, and are enormously grateful to them for funding our work. A charitable foundation which works with local partners to tackle poverty and inequality in Elmbridge, Surrey. We work closely with our local borough council, which holds the primary responsibility for resettling refugees locally. The Community Foundation brings together local donors and those acting to provide positive solutions for local people and disadvantaged individuals. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600m a year to communities across the UK, raised by players of the National Lottery. Shanly Foundation is funded entirely by the Shanly Group of companies and donates over £1.75m every year to community causes across the South East of England. We also work closely with a growing and varied network of other organisations, including charities, government agencies, faith groups, schools and companies. They all have a key role to play in supporting displaced people, and we achieve more by working together. We also work with a growing and varied network of other organisations, including charities, government agencies, faith groups, schools and companies. They all have a key role to play in supporting displaced people, and we achieve more by working together. Here are some more of our strategic partners: City of Sanctuary is a network of communities, councils, schools and libraries that provide support and opportunity to people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Elmbridge CAN is proud to be a long-standing member of the City of Sanctuary movement. Big Leaf is a local charitable foundation which provides a nurturing programme of activities, projects and events, focussing on combating social isolation and improving wellbeing for displaced young people in Surrey. CSVA is a charity aiming to support and shape best practice in volunteering and social action in Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell and Mole Valley. Specifically, they help to promote our volunteering opportunities and undertake DBS checks on our behalf. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership community for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England. It helps voluntary organisations achieve their greatest impact. Elmbridge CAN is a member of NCVO.

Elmbridge CAN offers a range of free activities specifically designed for displaced people. What's on Elmbridge CAN offers a range of free activities specifically designed for displaced people. There are lots of other sports, social and cultural activities that you can participate in - many of them free of charge - in your local area. Elmbridge CAN activities Below you will find our normal term-time schedule. Classes English classes for all levels, with play helpers for children on Fridays. Tuesdays 10.00–11.30 St James Parish Centre, Weybridge KT13 8DN. Fridays 10.15-11.45 Walton Community Centre, Manor Road, Walton KT12 2PB. We sometimes run driving theory classes depending on demand - contact us for details. Drop-in hubs Come to meet others, practice your English or ask questions. Tuesdays 11.00-13.00 Weybridge Library, Church Street, Weybridge KT13 8DE. Fridays 11.00-12.30 Walton Community Centre, Manor Road, Walton KT12 2PB. St Nicholas Church, Summer Rd, Thames Ditton KT7 0QQ - by appointment only. St Andrews Church, Cobham KT11 3EJ - by appointment only. Teenagers Sports and social for displaced young people age 13-19. Thursdays 19.30-21.00 St George’s College, Weybridge KT15 2QS. Please contact us if your child would like to participate. Help with transport may be available. Other activities in the community Gym and swimming Running and walking Yoga Tennis For teenagers Cycling Cultural activities Gym and swimming Gym memberships, swimming and exercise classes are available at the XCel Leisure Complex and Hurst Pool . They offer a free 3-month membership for displaced people. After the initial 3 months, you can get a 20% discount on membership. There is a women-only swimming session on Saturdays 18.00-19.00 at Hurst Pool. Back to top Running and walking Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog or run 5 kilometres (or volunteer or spectate). It takes place every Saturday morning at 9.00 across multiple locations. Our Parks also offer free running and fitness classes in parks across the UK. Back to top Special group activities Elmbridge Borough Council Our local council runs different wellbeing activities, as well as specialist groups for resettled people. You can join in activites such as local walks, tennis, yoga and cricket. Find out more and get involved. Mary Frances Trust Mary Frances Trust is a charity which offers wellbeing activities, such as yoga and walking, community groups and courses throughout the year. Find out more about the Mary Frances Trust and how to register for their activities. Women's groups Some local groups meet and are a safe environment for women and children only. Multi-Connections group Holy Trinity Claygate Church, KT10 0JP Alternate Saturdays in term-time 11.00 -12.30 Email: belcramer@htclaygate.org Sisterhood group Wednesdays 12.30-14.30 St John's Church Walton, KT12 3JQ Yoga Yoga is more than just an exercise class. It has been proven to help with trauma symptoms. The local classes below offer a discount for displaced people (see also Mary Frances Trust above). Sport in Mind charity offers free yoga at the Xcel Leisure Centre on a Wednesday 12-1pm. You can sign up here . Yoga with Ruth in Weybridge Yoga with Florendia in Walton and Weybridge Yoga with Uzma in Cobham Back to top Tennis Displaced people in Elmbridge (and any Elmbridge residents in receipt of benefits) are eligible for a FREE tennis pass to use at any of the 12 sites operated by Parks Tennis in Elmbridge. Send an email to sign up: parkstennis@elmbridge.gov.uk . Back to top For teenagers There are a number of activities that are run especially for teens. Here are some of the local schemes - many of which are free of charge. Virtual youth space for Ukrainian kids: sessions run from 18.00 to 19.00 on the first and third Thursday of every month. For more information e-mail: ukrainiansupport@barnardos.org.uk . Football with Chelsea FC: free football training for boys and girls from age 11-17, in a variety of locations across Surrey. It is run by Premier League Kicks, funded by the Premier League through the Premier League Charitable Fund. Complete the form here (y o u can select a time and location). XCel Leisure Complex in Walton runs drop-in sessions for teens age 11-16. Contact them direct for more information. Claygate Youth and Community Hub provides free sessions for teens on Tuesdays 18.00-20.00 and Thursdays 19.00 to 21.00. They also offer youth sport sessions on Wednesdays from 18.00 to 19.30. See their website for full details. Foley Boxing Club for both boys and girls, is run by the Metropolitan Police at Imber Court, Molesey KT8 0BT. There is a charge of £5 per class, but ask for a concession if you cannot afford it. Please contact Lee Martin on 07957 829030 for more information and to book. Back to top Cycling We often get bikes donated and we can also teach people how to ride if required. Bikes are subject to availability. Please send an email to materials@elmbridgecan.org.uk to let us know your needs - age, height etc. Back to top Cultural activities Hampton Court Palace offers £1 tickets for eligible individuals. For more information and to book online visit their website . Many galleries and museums in London are free to visit. There are so many to choose from. Visit London has lots of ideas and suggestions for cheap days out. If you need help accessing any of the services on this page, then please get in touch. Back to top

Following her flight from Saudi Arabia, Nadia spent seven months living in a small hotel room in Stevenage until she found a host in Elmbridge. Nadia's story There was a moment when, having just arrived in Hersham from Hertfordshire, Nadia wasn’t sure where her next meal was coming from. Following her flight from Saudi Arabia, the 25-year-old had just spent seven months living in a single hotel room in Stevenage and had finally found a host in Elmbridge. However, the host’s work meant there was very little to eat in the house and also, Nadia had mislaid her Home Office Application Registration Card which would have allowed her to claim £9 per week. Add to this that she wasn’t permitted to ask her host for cash (although the host did make a few good suggestions) and Nadia was getting desperate. Someone then suggested contacting Elmbridge CAN. Nadia emailed the charity pleading “I don’t have food, please help me”. “I was freaking out, I didn’t know what to do”, she says. It was at that point that Elmbridge CAN came into Nadia’s life. The next day Jeannie emailed stating that she’d very soon receive a large food box plus a £50 Tesco gift card. “Elmbridge CAN saved me” recalls Nadia. “It’s like when you are so terribly anxious and then suddenly everything gets better. I was showered with kindness. I cannot thank them enough.” There were more food boxes to follow. Another huge box turned up filled with vegetables, pasta and what Nadia calls “general goodness”. More recently Jeannie has been helping Nadia with her Home Office application. As an asylum seeker, Nadia is unable to work, yet she is offering her time free with local hospitality outlets in order to get experience while she is also studying in order to gain qualifications to move on to the next stage in her life. “I just felt Elmbridge CAN had my back” says Nadia. The new-found support meant that Nadia could plan her next move following her escape from the ultra-strict Middle Eastern country.

The history of Elmbridge CAN since it started in 2015. Elmbridge CAN - our history Since forming in 2016, Elmbridge CAN has grown in strength and size, currently supporting over 330 families who have fled conflict or persecution. “It was a response to what was happening in Syria,” Elmbridge CAN co-director Jeannie Tweedie explains. “We connected through social media initially and then a group of us met up in a pub to work out what we could do. The first significant thing we did was organise a meeting in collaboration with the local authority and invited various stakeholders along.” The council agreed to take part in the Syrian Resettlement Scheme, so the most urgent work Elmbridge CAN undertook was finding hosts for refugees. In 2017, the first family arrived in Elmbridge. Housed in Oxshott without a car, an environment culturally very different to Syria, the local community rallied around. Today, some of those children from that family are young adults, studying at university. “What is amazing is when you see a family or individual transform their lives,” Jeannie reflects. “We support them and walk beside them if they want us to, but it is they who do it.” The early priorities of the organisation involved getting houses ready for new arrivals; often laborious work sourcing furniture. Gradually more families arrived and, by 2018 when Elmbridge CAN registered as a charity, roughly 30 Syrians had been resettled alongside other nationalities. Among them was Nurettin, a Turkish asylum seeker, who rebuilt his life in the IT industry where his expertise lay prior to fleeing his country. He has since become a trustee of the charity. “What every arrival has in common is that they have lost their home, their familiarity, their security and the feeling of belonging somewhere,” Jeannie adds. “There is a cultural adjustment to deal with. It’s hugely variable, but they all have that loss in common.” So, creating an infrastructure became a key part of Elmbridge CAN’s work. An English class was launched, recruiting volunteers who got busy helping with one-to-one English lessons, supporting children’s learning and helping people find jobs. Over 40 hours of tutoring and homework help are delivered each week. When Ayram left Syria at the age of seven she joined 100,000 others fleeing persecution at a refugee camp in Jordan. Eleven years later she is studying Law at the University of Surrey. Elmbridge CAN has thrived through its adaptability. In August 2021, the fall of Afghanistan meant that - almost overnight - approximately 200 Afghans arrived locally. Each had been part of a deeply traumatic evacuation. They were placed in hotel accommodation in Thames Ditton. “We stepped up, as did the local community, many of whom joined us as volunteers,” Jeannie recalls. “We organised clothing and toy deliveries. We set up whole family ESOL classes in the hotel, as it took around a term for school places to be found for the children. We held Eid parties and started a sewing group for the women. “We have a volunteer called Tim who is our bike guy. He mends bikes when people donate them and they are incredibly useful for people. It really makes a difference. We’ve had women who’ve had the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike for the first time.” Elmbridge CAN took on further responsibilities when the council-employed support worker left, meaning statutory support for the Syrians now came under the umbrella of the organisation. With that, and funding from Walton Charity for an administrator, Elmbridge CAN was able to employ its first staff. In February 2022, the invasion of Ukraine forced many Ukrainians to flee. The local community welcomed over 600 displaced Ukrainians, mainly women and children. Elmbridge CAN volunteers organised weekly welcome hubs and the local council issued a contract for the charity to employ two Ukrainian-speaking integration workers. “They got busy with re-matching people who needed new hosts,” Jeannie recalls. “We had to put together an infrastructure capable of moving an organisation from being one that supported 30 families, to one that currently supports over 350.” The charity set up two community English classes in different locations. Together with its hubs, and one-to-one volunteer placements, they meet the needs of displaced families. For some individuals, the charity provides a high-needs case service led by experienced integration workers. Other people may simply need practical support. “One little girl had the biggest smile on her face after we gave her an electronic keyboard,” says Jeannie. “We have a common humanity around the world for our children. Many families have come here because of their children. We work not just with those who have come through resettlement schemes, but those who have had to come through the asylum route. Our aim remains the same as when we started: to welcome.” The next step is to secure the organisation’s future in a changing world. “We’ve had to be quite reactive in the past and there’s always that uncertainty about the environment we are in,” Jeannie concludes. “We have built something important and we want to make that sustainable. We’ve had growth without planning it so we can grow further with planning, but we need it to be properly resourced. It’s about bringing the community together.”