Strengthening impact through collaboration
A blog by Sheren Hong, Breaking Barriers' Philanthropy Manager, reflecting on insights from our third annual funders roundtable event.
At Breaking Barriers, we believe that real, lasting change happens when funders and charities work together – not just through financial support, but by sharing knowledge, challenging norms and co-creating solutions. By combining expertise, resources, and vision, we can create more opportunities for refugees to rebuild their lives.
Last week, we were proud to bring together funders and partners, for the third year running, to take part in an insightful discussion on how we can work collectively to drive meaningful change for refugees. This year’s roundtable focused on three key themes: embedding lived experience in leadership, scaling impact through collaboration, and unlocking employment pathways in high-growth sectors.
Embedding lived experience in leadership
A key focus of the discussion was the importance of building clear pathways for people with lived experience to progress into leadership roles. While the sector has made progress in hiring staff with lived experience, there are still barriers that prevent them from advancing into decision-making positions.
The conversation highlighted the need for long-term investment in leadership development, mentorship, and career progression, as well as greater visibility of the impact lived experience leadership has in shaping more inclusive and effective services. Funders and charities alike recognised the importance of fostering a culture where people with lived experience are supported and empowered to take on leadership roles.
Scaling impact through collaboration
Collaboration was another central theme of the discussion. With the demand for refugee support growing, partnerships – whether through joint initiatives, mergers, or shared resources – can help organisations deliver more effective services while reducing duplication.
Our own experience integrating RefuAid’s Language and Re-accreditation Programmes into Breaking Barriers’ support model was a standout example of how strategic collaboration can strengthen the system and support available. The discussion encouraged funders to think about how they can enable more of these partnerships through funding models that prioritise cooperation over competition.
Unlocking employment pathways in high-growth sectors
Securing meaningful employment remains one of the biggest challenges for refugees, and the discussion explored the role that funders can play in expanding access to meaningful jobs. Refugees bring valuable skills and experience, yet systemic barriers continue to limit their opportunities.
The team at Breaking Barriers has seen the power that sector-specific employment initiatives have in opening up pathways to sustainable careers. Through partnerships with major employers, we are working to bridge the gap between skilled refugees and industries that need talent. Funders play a key role in scaling these initiatives, supporting skills development, and influencing employer practices to create more inclusive hiring pathways.
The power of partnerships
Reflecting on the event, one of our funders, James Tullock, who is the Learning and Evaluation Manager at The Henry Smith Charity, summed up the value of these discussions perfectly:
This was an excellent learning opportunity, which reinforced the value of funders and their partners coming together to share insights, experiences and strategies.
James Tullock
We are incredibly grateful to all the funders who joined us for this year’s roundtable, bringing thoughtful questions, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to driving change. These conversations don’t end here. An ongoing dialogue between funders and charities is key to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for refugees in the UK.
We are excited to see how these partnerships develop. If you would like to find out more about their impact, please contact [email protected].
