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Changes to services over Easter

Find out about changes to our services due to the Easter bank holiday. This includes changes to rubbish and recycling collections, parking enforcement, libraries and customer service opening times.

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Employment for Ukrainian refugees

How to find a job, and information about self-employment and volunteering

If you have arrived from Ukraine on either the Homes for Ukraine scheme or the Family Scheme, you are eligible to work in the UK.

Before starting work, you will need:

  • a National Insurance number
  • proof of identification.

National Insurance number

A National Insurance (NI) number is just for you. It is a set of letters and numbers that is unique to you and never changes. Everyone who wants to work or claim benefits in the UK must have an NI number.

  • To get an NI number, you must be 16 or over and live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
  • If you do not have one, you should claim for Universal Credit or other benefits and you will receive a NI number as part of your application.
  • You can apply for a NI number online or at any Job Centre Plus in Islington.

You can find more information on how to apply online on the government's website.

Finding a job

There are many places you can look for jobs and most of these are now online. If you are looking for a job with a particular employer, you should check their website for any vacancies they may have. You can search for types of job, level of role and industry using these job listings websites.

You should also look out for refugee job fairs, which are attended by employers who are happy to hire refugees. It may be easier to find a role with these employers because, for example, they may not need you to be able to speak fluent English. You can keep track of upcoming job fairs by searching for them on Eventbrite.

There are also dedicated teams at the council who can help you with your job search. To receive specific employment support, email Resettlement@islington.gov.uk. The service will then be able to direct you to dedicated employment support.

Self employment and volunteering

It is important that you understand the rules and regulations around being self-employed in the UK are to ensure you are to ensure you are complying with paying tax and declaring income. Find more information about self-employment in the UK.

The Islington Working team at the council can also help you with your self-employment goals.

If you would like to find a volunteering role, you can find a comprehensive list of volunteering vacancies available in Islington.