No one chooses to be a refugee
Empowering displaced people to reach a brighter tomorrow
Those of us who haven’t experienced life as a refugee can only imagine how hard it is to arrive in an unfamiliar country this way
Today, a combination of natural disasters and global conflict and instability has displaced over 100 million people all over the world. 43.4 million are refugees.
Finding education, employment and other services that can help are vital parts of starting a new life and beginning to settle in.
Businesses like ours can help by using our skills and volunteer time to contribute and help build a better future for some refugees.
That’s where our 5 Million Futures societal impact programme comes in.
Beacon: Creating a brighter future for refugees
Building an app to provide a one-stop-shop for refugees in the UK
Information about the support services available to refugees in the UK is often hard to find, out of date, or not available.
To address this, the social impact company, BecomingX, is developing an app called Beacon, designed to help refugees in the UK to integrate more effectively. The app will provide them with critical information and support services, all in one place, in their own language. We are a founding supporter of Beacon and are committed to helping them build this valuable resource which is scheduled to launch later this year.
To date, 17+ NGOs and four Deloitte clients have supported the app, which is currently at its testing stage. Volunteers from Deloitte have helped in other ways too:
- 17 BrightStarts completed a one-day Hackathon to map out UK refugee support centres, creating a resource that doesn’t currently exist.
- 14 volunteers have supported the development of written content available to refugees on the app, covering areas like accommodation and education.
- In June 2023, as a part of our annual volunteering drive, Futures Month, 300+ Deloitte volunteers took part in Steps for Success, a programme which provides one hour 1-2-1 coaching sessions for refugees or students from the Ukrainian Students Union. We have a big ambition to expand on this achievement in June 2024, with 500 Deloitte volunteers mentoring a refugee on their employment journey.
"I feel much more confident in my job search now; thanks to the person I spoke with. They not only provided me with valuable advice but also guided me on where and how to begin my search. I’m grateful for their expertise and support."
Steps for Success participant
Project Amal: A journey of hope
Creating opportunities for displaced talent to enter the workforce.
Even when they have sought-after professional expertise, displaced people face many barriers to securing work on the basis of their skills. To respond to this challenge, teams from across Deloitte have come together with Talent Beyond Boundaries and IOM - UN Migration to create Project Amal. Amal means hope in Arabic.
Through the project, we’ve been able to welcome new recruits, who bring valuable skills, diverse perspectives and expertise across a range of teams. Like Danial who joined Deloitte’s Belfast office as an analyst on a skilled worker visa as part of the Displaced Talent for Europe project funded by the European Union. When Danial, originally from Syria, landed in Belfast in December 2023, support was put in place to help him settle in, including a ‘buddy’ who welcomed him, introduced him to other colleagues and answered any questions he had.
He has found the environment at Deloitte inspiring and the people of Belfast, friendly.
“I aspire to embrace leadership opportunities and continue to grow both personally and professionally. Above all, my main goal is to strive to be the best version of myself in all aspects of life.“
Mohammad Khaled Danial, Project Amal candidate
Tent UK: Empowerment through employment
Connecting refugees to work
On March 4, 2024, 70 companies including Deloitte came together to launch Tent UK, a coalition of businesses committed to connecting refugees with job opportunities. Currently, there are around 500,000 refugees living in the UK. Though they have the right to work, they often face structural barriers to getting a job - from language skills to a lack of professional networks and transport.
With almost one million vacancies available in the UK job market, across vital sectors including hospitality, food services, manufacturing and healthcare, Tent UK supports businesses to hire, train and mentor refugees.
Our work with Tent UK will help reduce barriers to employment for refugees so they can get a foothold on the career market.
Deloitte also supports the Tent Partnership for Refugees (Tent) across the United States, Canada and Spain.
“The minute a refugee gets a job is the minute they stop being a refugee."
Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder of Tent
Swift action for meaningful impact: Our approach to crisis response
Humanitarian crises frequently lead to global displacement, compelling people to seek refuge in more stable environments. We are committed to responding quickly and meaningfully to these crises to help communities impacted.
We have helped with funding for aid to those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey, Syria and Morocco, and the flooding in Libya. Our donations have also helped to support humanitarian needs in Israel and Gaza, and we continue to identify areas where we can assist in humanitarian and disaster relief response.
These initiatives are just the beginning. We will continue to look at ways we can support displaced people by leveraging the expertise of our colleagues and the strength of our firm. We will focus on finding solutions that are innovative, timely and life-changing to create a more inclusive world.
We know that refugees face unimaginable challenges on their journeys to safety. By leveraging our expertise and skills, and supporting the development of systems like Beacon, we can help them adjust to their new homes and communities better. We have an opportunity to make a difference where it counts, and through using our resources we can build a brighter, more hopeful future for those who need it.
Claire Burton, Director, Responsible Business
