The impact Camden Libraries Refugee Work Experience Placement initiative has had on its refugee community has been enormous. Not only did the programme participants gain much needed self-confidence and work experience, nineteen found permanent employment. The scheme has encouraged greater collaboration between the library service and Camden's refugee groups, and the role Camden Libraries' play in the community has also been recognised by departments within Camden Council and has contributed to the authority achieving its equality targets.
When Camden Council joined forces with four other boroughs in a national Welcome to Your Libraries initiative, the idea was to help library services' discover why refugees and asylum seekers were not making adequate use of their libraries.
As a result of this Camden Council's Scrutiny Panel called on its library service to use the project as a launch pad for a Refugee Work Experience Placement programme to help refugees gain experience in a wide range of skills that would help further their career chances.
"Having raised their expectations in how they could use the service to give them a voice, we wanted to extend that help further by increasing their skills knowledge so they would be eligible to find work," explained Sonia Winifred, Camden's Deputy Head of Service.
"At the beginning there was a lack of commitment to the project because the refugees felt they would not get anything out of it," explained Sonia. "Getting them to understand the value work experience was going to give them when they went for a job was our most important task."
Library staff also had concerns that their jobs would be at risk: "Staff thought we were bringing in people that would replace them in time and act as cover when library assistants were off. This was never, nor is, our intention and one of our tasks was to ensure staff trust in the scheme.
"While corporate policy is to make everyone welcome at our libraries and provide work place experience, it's also about giving staff the chance to learn new skills as mentors as well as learn about other cultures and customs."
"The placement programme has worked really well. So many of our refugees have come from countries where they were professionals only to find themselves in minuscule jobs when they reach the UK. We've been able to provide them with skills that will help further their expectations; and to feel part of the community."
One such refugee who underwent Camden's three month work placement at the Swiss Cottage Library is now a library assistant having applied for the post through a job agency, and in 2006 was named Best Library Assistant of the Year.
"For initiatives like this to work you have to be prepared to do the legwork," explained Sonia. "You need to gain the trust of the community and your staff. Be clear about where you are going and the work involved and what they can expect to get out of it. Whatever you do, don't build up expectations that cannot be delivered."
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