By Katy Cottrell, Sona Circle

As coronavirus swept across the UK many business sectors were hit extremely hard. The resulting increase in unemployment has been felt across the country, and especially in major cities like London, Manchester and Birmingham. One group of individuals that has felt the impact the most has been refugees and asylum seekers, with unemployment rates reaching new dire levels. Pre-COVID the refugee unemployment rate was at 18% as opposed to the general UK population unemployment rate of 3.9%.

Sona Circle connects socially conscious employers with the skilled and dependable refugee workforce and has a track record of promoting equality in the workplace and in employment for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Immigrants and BAME individuals alike.

In our brand new campaign, #EqualTees, we invite members of the public to take an active stance on promoting true equality across the nation. By purchasing and wearing an Equal Tee, you do not just contribute to the social responsibility of looking after those in need, you are also making a public statement that discrimination and prejudice needs to end.

The proceeds raised by the Equal Tees campaign are distributed directly towards workplace equality and refugee employment.

Onaseye Onabolu, the founder of Sona Circle, shares his excitement:

“It’s time for us to come together as a community to take a stand for what we believe in. This is true equality in society, in the workplace and on the streets of our neighbourhoods. By wearing an Equal Tee you are courageously demonstrating that you value equality”.

Sona Circle match participating employers with bright, committed and job-ready refugees so they can gain valuable hands-on experience in business. By creating these opportunities for refugees, the nation is coming together and combatting the discrimination and stigma in hiring practices that contribute to refugee unemployment. 

By wearing an Equal Tee you are standing in solidarity with any group in society that has been unfairly treated or discriminated against, this does not end with refugees and asylum seekers, it includes the Black Lives Matter movement, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality and BAME rights.

Why should you support the work of Sona Circle Recruitment?

Many refugees experience pervasive discrimination in their host country after resettlement. This bias is often manifested (whether intended or not) through exclusion, particularly in the workplace. 

As a result, the UK unemployment rate is 4x higher for the refugee population than the British population. This can have negative effects on refugees’ ability to integrate into their host country and provide for themselves and their families. 

Sona Circle promotes workplace equality by educating employers on the valuable skills that refugees can bring to businesses and how they can make their hiring practices more refugee-friendly. 

What can I do to help? 

By purchasing an Equal Tee and wearing it in your place of work or in your community you can ensure that the discussion of true equality in society is continued. 

Additionally, you can introduce the work of Sona Circle at your office and support the mission of combatting debilitating unemployment within the Refugee and Asylum Seeker community.

If you’re able to make a donation, please visit the Sona Circle JustGiving page to share the social responsibility of caring for those in need.

Finally, If you would like more information on how Sona Circle can support you and your business, please do get in touch.