In 1992, the Refugee Education and Employment Programme (REEP) started its life as a three year project within the Northern Refugee Centre (NRC) in Sheffield. The project began with two staff, an Education Co-ordinator and an Employment Worker and provided one-to-one ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) tuition with volunteer tutors and employment advice and guidance to refugees and asylum seekers.

At the end of the three year period the project had grown considerably and moved on from the NRC to be managed by an umbrella project based at Voluntary Action Sheffield. Demand continued and the project grew even larger and had to move to our current base at Alpha House.  Finally in April 2001, REEP became an independent company limited by guarantee (No: 4185276).  By the end of 2001 REEP had also gained charitable status (No: 1087884).  The programme now has a management committee and 3 trustees.

REEP is a very flexible organisation and over the years we have developed our training and services to meet the ever-changing needs of refugees. The project now employs 13 staff, 9 substantial part time staff and 4session tutors and works with approximately 50 volunteers. On average 500 people per year access the services at REEP, about 90% are from the refugee communities and 10% express their interest in volunteering.