WELCOME TO URP
Empowering Refugees and Migrants to Thrive
Built on lived experience, bridging the gap through education and employment since 2019.
Unleashing Refugee Potential C.I.C. (URP) was founded in Leeds by Dr Kidist Teklemariam. Our work is shaped by lived experience and a deep understanding of displacement, migration, and rebuilding life in the UK.
ABOUT URP
A Leeds story built from lived experience
URP grew from an MSc live project and was established in Leeds in 2019. Our work brings together lived experience, professional knowledge, community insight and research to help refugees and migrants access education, employment and the support they need to move forward.
Our Purpose
What we are here to change and why it matters.
Our Approach
How we listen, collaborate and build practical routes forward.
Lived Experience
How lived and community knowledge shapes our work.
Our Team
Meet the people who lead, deliver and support URP.
Governance
How URP is governed, accountable and responsibly managed.
Our Impact
See the change, evidence and learning generated through our work.
What We Do
We walk alongside refugees and migrants with the tools, confidence and connections they need to build brighter futures and stronger communities.
Education & Skills
We support access to education, accredited courses and tailored skills training to help learners achieve their goals.
Employment Support
From CVs to interviews, we provide one-to-one guidance and employer connections to help people into meaningful work.
Digital & Community Support
We build digital confidence and create community spaces where people can connect, share and thrive together.
Featured Projects
Our projects respond to real barriers, build on community knowledge and create practical pathways into education, employment, digital inclusion and participation.
CURRENT PROJECT • 100% DIGITAL LEEDS
Digital Inclusion & Community Empowerment
Practical, trusted support helping refugees and migrants use digital systems confidently for work, education, family life and essential services.
CURRENT PROJECT • LEADERSHIP JUSTICE
Migrant Leadership Justice Commission
A collaborative commission centring lived experience in how services and systems are understood, challenged and improved.
CURRENT PROJECT • EDUCATION JUSTICE
Migrant & Refugee Education Justice
Practical family-school navigation and advocacy that turns recurring barriers into wider learning about access, voice and accountability.
HOW WE WORK
Support shaped with people, not simply delivered to them
We listen first, recognise lived experience and community knowledge, and work alongside people to understand what support is actually needed. Our role is not simply to provide services, but to help connect people, organisations and systems in ways that make support easier to access and more responsive.
Listen first - Start with people's experiences, priorities and strengths.
Work alongside communities - Value lived experience as knowledge, not simply as a story.
Build connections - Strengthen links between people, schools, employers, services and organisations.
RESEARCH & LEARNING
Evidence that grows from community experience
URP uses research and community insight to understand barriers, strengthen practice and develop practical responses. Our learning is rooted in the experiences of refugees and migrants and is shared to support wider change.
EDUCATION & INEQUALITY
Home Learning Inequalities
Research with 18 migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking parents in Leeds highlighted barriers to home learning, including limited access to suitable technology, internet connectivity, language support and knowledge of school systems.
CIVIC PARTICIPATION
Empowering Immigrant Voters
A qualitative study exploring awareness of voting rights, electoral participation and barriers to engagement, highlighting the importance of accessible information, community-based learning and practical support.
Research informs action: findings from our home-learning research helped shape the development of Thriving Families.
Our Impact
We focus on the changes that matter: stronger access to learning, work, digital participation and community voice.
Community Participation
Education & Learning
Employment & Progression
Digital Inclusion
Find support or get involved
Whether you are looking for practical support or want to contribute your time, skills, resources or partnership, there is a clear route into URP.
Looking for support?
Get practical guidance with education, employment, digital access and navigating everyday services and opportunities.
Want to work with URP?
Volunteer, partner with us, support a project or contribute skills and resources that help strengthen our work with communities.
PARTNERSHIP
Working with others is part of our story
URP works in partnership with organisations that bring complementary knowledge, networks and expertise. Through collaboration, we can make support more connected, accessible and responsive to the needs of refugee and migrant communities.
Current partners
Latest from URP
News, stories, reflections and learning from URP’s projects, communities and partnerships.
Launching URP’s Digital Inclusion & Community Empowerment Project
Digital access is no longer optional—it’s a lifeline. We are proud to launch URP’s new Digital Inclusion & Community Empowerment Project, designed to bridge the gap for refugee and migrant families.
Empowering Community: Approach to Civic and Political Participation
Working with a youth group from migrant and refugee backgrounds has brought attention to a key community priority: tackling challenges related to political participation and civic….
Empowering Young Migrants and Refugees: A Transformative Initiative in Leeds
In the bustling city of Leeds, a transformative project is making significant strides in reshaping the lives of young people with refugee and migrant background. Our journey began with a pilot project in collaboration with SIRIUS European Policy Network for Migrant Education
Ready to take your next step?
Whether you’re looking for support or want to contribute your skills, experience or partnership, there’s a way to connect with URP.