A COURSE helping Ukrainian refugees learn English and find work is available online.

STEP Ukraine is an online course designed to help those in the UK, funded by the UK Government, and is completely free for all participants.

The groundbreaking scheme, awarded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), offers up to 10,000 Ukrainians across the UK intensive English language and employment support courses to help them access the jobs market and achieve their ambitions while in the UK.

From listening to feedback from Ukrainian guests, the courses were designed to be accessible so people with young children, caring responsibilities, or shift workers, can take part from anywhere in the UK.

Ukrainians can join if they are unemployed or if have a job but are hoping to move into more relevant employment. The course can also support people interested in self-employment.

The programme includes:
An intensive 10 weeks of 2.5 hour daily English classes by the British Council, with options to take the lessons morning, afternoon or evening.
12 weeks of weekly employment support with a dedicated employment advisor, to support with: CV writing, job applications, interview prep, support with job search, and specialist workshops.
All classes are remote, and teacher led. They are streamed so you will be with classmates at a similar level.

STEP Ukraine is delivered by World Jewish Relief and the British Council.

Chief executive of the British Council, Scott McDonald, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with World Jewish Relief to deliver this critical programme.

“For many Ukrainians, escaping war and travelling to the UK will only be the first step on a long road to a new life. At the British Council, we know that learning English unlocks life changing opportunities, both in the UK and around the globe.

“We look forward to combining our considerable expertise in delivering world-class online English language learning with the excellent specialist training and employment support provided by World Jewish Relief to benefit Ukrainian people in the UK.”

UK-based Ukrainians can register online at www.worldjewishrelief.org/stepukraine or call freephone, 0800 319 6089 (Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-2pm).