My Journey with Routes: From Service User to Project Manager
Roula Kheder Alsheikh, the Routes to Employment Project Manager, shares the story of her time with Routes - from mentee to Project Manager.
As I prepare to leave my role at Routes and step into a new chapter in sustainability - the career path I dreamed of when I first joined the Routes Mentoring Programme - I’ve been reflecting on the journey that brought me here. What began as a search for support during one of the most uncertain moments of my life became a transformative experience that shaped my confidence, my career, and my sense of belonging in the UK.
Finding Hope in a Difficult Time: My Mentoring Experience
In 2020, just after the first COVID‑19 lockdown was announced, I received a call from Daisy, the co‑founder of Routes. They told me, “Congratulations, we’ve found a mentor for you, and you have a place on our programme.” At a time when the job market was collapsing, organisations were reducing services, and uncertainty was everywhere, that call felt like a light at the end of the tunnel.
Being matched with a mentor who shared a similar background and who would support me for four months was more than I expected. It was exactly what I needed. I was actively searching for employment support, building a network, and applying for roles in Environmental Impact and Sustainability. Through the mentoring programme, I explored what it would take to reach that goal. I also realised that the journey would be longer and more complex than I had imagined.
During that period, Routes became more than a programme. It became a support system, a community that made London feel less overwhelming and less isolating for someone rebuilding their life as a refugee.
Routes as My Support Network
Through Routes, I was introduced to organisations committed to employing people with lived experience of displacement. This network helped me secure my first job in the UK as a Volunteer Manager at a social impact organisation.
Even after starting that role, I stayed connected to Routes. I was still holding onto my long‑term ambition of working in sustainability, and being part of the Routes community kept that goal alive. It reminded me of what I wanted to achieve and gave me the encouragement to keep moving toward it.
Routes team left to right: Programme Managers Tamana and Shunn. RtE Project Managers Jocelyn and Roula. Fundraising Manager Ni, Head of programmes Wieke and Co-CEO Yeri
Exploring Refugee Employment Barriers
In 2023, I joined Routes as Project Development Manager. The opportunity to lead a research project on the systemic barriers facing refugee women in employment felt deeply personal. I had lived those challenges myself, but conducting the Routes to Employment research allowed me to understand them on a much deeper level. I spoke with refugee women, employers, sector organisations, and community groups. I uncovered hidden barriers, listened to stories that mirrored my own, and saw how policies, even small ones, can profoundly affect people’s lives. This work turned me into an advocate for refugee employment and strengthened my commitment to creating fairer pathways for women from my background, which is why I’m especially proud to have spoken about these issues on the Expert by Experience podcast, Community as a Superpower, a collaboration between Routes and Refugee Action for Refugee Week 2025.
Roula presenting the Routes to Employment research findings to a group of employers at the pilot project launching event
What I Learned Working at Routes
I have always admired the way Routes works, the kindness, the thoughtfulness, and the genuine care shown in every interaction. When I joined the team, I began to embody the organisation’s values: Joy, Welcome, and Autonomy.
I learned how small details can make people feel valued, acknowledged, and seen. I also learned what it means to create a space where people feel safe speaking, sharing, and growing. And throughout my time at Routes, I felt heard, supported, and trusted.
Closing This Chapter and Beginning the Next
Leaving Routes is bittersweet. This organisation has shaped my journey in ways I never expected, first as a mentee, then as a community member, and finally as a project manager. It helped me build the confidence, experience, and clarity I needed to return to my original goal: a career in sustainability.
As I move into this next chapter, I carry with me everything Routes has given me: the skills, the values, the community, and the belief that change is possible when people are supported with dignity and compassion.
Routes will always be part of my story, and I hope my journey inspires other refugee women to pursue their ambitions, no matter how distant they may seem.
Routes team left to right: Programme Manager Tamana, Head of programmes Wieke, RtE Project Manager Roula. Former Business and Partnership Lead and Co-founders Leyla and Daisy
