Words by Smiley Team
Routes matches pairs of women based on their location, skill sets as well as their personal and professional interests and trains its mentors in communication and listening skills, leadership and coaching techniques.
On its last programme, mentors supported their mentees to launch their own catering businesses, apply to university, exhibit their paintings at a public event, improve digital skills and get work experience.
Why did you feel compelled to set up Routes?
We founded Routes in 2017 as a direct response to the barriers that women who are refugees or asylum seekers face when trying to access support in the UK. From attending English classes to applying to college, completing work experience to making friends, there are numerous gender-related barriers that women seeking safety face that are simply not addressed by current services. This leaves many women isolated, with low levels of English and poorer mental health than their male counterparts.
At the same time, only 22 per cent of senior roles in UK businesses are currently held by women and 14 per cent more men than women enter middle management for the first time five years after graduating. Mentoring is a proven way of developing purposeful leadership and communication skills, giving women the tools and confidence to start closing this gap.
Original Article by Lucy Purdy. Source: Positive News
