War has driven 13 million children out of school in the Middle East North Africa region, and almost 50 million globally. In conflict, schools are destroyed, occupied by armed groups, and used to shelter displaced students. When children and families are forced to flee their homes, they miss out on more education as they make dangerous journeys trying to find a place of safety. For the refugees arriving in Europe, education is a priority: it’s how lives begin to be rebuilt and hope for the future in rekindled.
Refugee Education UK (previously Refugee Support Network) enables young people seeking safety in the UK, whether they have been granted refugee status or are still going through the asylum process, to move towards more hopeful futures through education. Over 400 young people each year benefit from REUK’s programmes: education, mentoring, access to higher education and specialist educational support.

Alongside the direct work with young people, REUK undertakes research and consultancy and provides training, ensuring that the voices or young people are heard by the policy and decision-makers who affect their lives. The ALMT is supporting the establishment of an educational mentoring hub in Birmingham for 14-24 year old refugees, asylum seekers and survivors of trafficking with the following objectives:
1: Improved education retention and progression rates
2: Reduced social isolation and improved resilience
3: Improved community cohesion and cooperation.