East of England Refugee Community

The Care Workers’ Charity will use their existing systems for managing and processing crisis grants in line with the eligibility criteria agreed by International Recruitment East to meet the aims of supporting refugee communities being recruited and remaining in the adult social care sector.

International Recruitment East (IRE) is a Government funded programme.

The programme funding is to support care providers in ethical and safe recruitment of international care staff, and refugees with a right to work, into ASC care positions across the East of England.

The programme is running throughout 2023-2024. The funding ceases on 31 March 2024.

The IRE Programme aims to improve adult social care provision across the East of England. The heart of the programme is to support  care providers in the ethical recruitment of international care professionals. As part of this it also aims to ensure the safety, wellbeing and equipping of all internationally recruited ASC staff. This is necessary in order to ensure the very best quality of care for the people in the East who access ASC services.

International Recruitment East is supported by: 

• The twelve local authorities across the East of England
• Skills for Care
• The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) East

The Grant will be ring-fenced to Care Workers living in the following boroughs:

–        Bedford Borough
–        Central Bedfordshire
–        Cambridgeshire
–        Essex
–        Hertfordshire
–        Luton
–        Milton Keynes
–        Norfolk
–        Peterborough
–        Southend
–        Suffolk
–        Thurrock

We are offering a £500 grant to current care workers and new starters who meet the following criteria:

·         Are a refugee and have the right to work in the UK
·         If currently employed, you must have been in your current role for under three months

If you have been offered employment, you can apply for a grant within a month before your start date

The crisis grants may be able to assist with:  

–        Travel expenses
–        Childcare
–        Car repairs
–        Contribution towards a car purchase
–        Electric bike or scooter
–        Driving test/lessons
–        Internet for a year
–        Uniform or dress code
–        DBS check
–        Training related expenses
–        Driving tests/lessons

Due to financial resources, if you have received a total of £2000 or  more in grants from us, you are unfortunately not eligible for any further funding.