In Good Company: Leading and Learning with Routes

Since I stepped in as Routes’ Interim CEO, this past month has been one of the most enriching and energising experiences of my career. 

I’m in awe of our team: their thoughtfulness and intentionality in every decision, their commitment to creating meaningful connections, and their constant pursuit of compassionate, innovative ways to support refugee and asylum-seeking women.

Pictured: the Routes team (with Yeri Al-Jaf, our Interim CEO, pictured on the far right).

Recent Milestones: Building Together

In just a few weeks, we’ve:

• Matched new mentors and mentees for the 14th iteration of our award-winning flagship Mentoring Programme

• Distributed donated laptops to asylum-seeking and refugee mentees, with incredible support from UBS volunteers

• Delivered inclusive leadership and safeguarding training to our recent cohort of mentors

• Held our eagerly anticipated Routes to Employment launch event with our employment development partner Workwhile

• Shortlisted participants for our pilot Routes to Employment pre-apprenticeship course, developed from the findings of our Routes to Employment research into the systemic barriers refugee and asylum-seeking women face in navigating employment in London

• Explored the unique strengths of our team in a deeply reflective strengths coaching session led by Elizabeth Beroud (highly recommended!)

• Further developed innovative fundraising strategies to drive sustainable and impactful growth

But it’s no surprise that the team has achieved so much in such a short time — their dedication is evident. I’ve worked in the London refugee sector since 2016, initially at the British Red Cross where I first encountered Routes’ dynamic theatre workshops and met co-founders Leyla and Daisy. I was immediately struck by their vision for a refugee women’s mentoring programme and their ever-thoughtful approach to supporting the refugee community. In the years that followed, I remained an eager referral partner and then jumped at the chance to join Routes’ board in 2021. The refugee sector is small and runs on limited resources, but we — as a community — will always invest time and trust in organisations and people that are special.  

“Routes’ incredible growth over the last 7 years is a recognition of its consistent values, and I’m so proud to play a small part in that.”

A Culture of Care and Sustainability

At Routes, our core mission is to create spaces of ‘joy’, ‘welcome’, and ‘autonomy’ — principles that shape not only our programmes but how we treat each other. In a sector where burnout is common, Routes stands out by properly caring for its people. This commitment helps us do better by the community we serve, and offers an important model of sustainable working in the sector. Founding Director Leyla Mclennan’s recent sabbatical is an excellent example of how leadership can be both sustainable and self-aware. By taking the time to rest, learn and explore, Leyla is not only prioritising her own wellbeing, but also showing the importance of stepping back and trusting others to lead.

Pictured: Yeri

Leading the Future with Purpose

As Interim CEO, I’m excited to further support the integration of lived experience into senior leadership, develop new connections and partnerships, contribute to the design and development of our two other programmes — Routes to Employment and Alumni Support — and refine our funding strategies for sustainable growth. I’m going to soak up as much as I can while working with this brilliant team and take forward what I learn to continue finding ways to show solidarity with, and champion the lives of, refugees and asylum seekers.

If you’re curious to dive deeper into Yeri’s journey and sector experience, connect with her on LinkedIn or drop her an email.