THE BRITISH RED CROSS ARE EXTREMELY WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR SERVICE TO REFUGEES. I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE RED CROSS' SOUTH WEST REFUGEE DEPARTMENT, AND THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY MIGRATED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.

FOLLOWING A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUP SESSIONS, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT MANY OF THE REFUGEES WERE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN THE CATERING INDUSTRY TO START THEIR NEW LIVES IN THE UK.

HOWEVER MANY OF THE DETERMINED REFUGEES HAD FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WERE YOUNGER AND NOT EDUCATED OR TRAINED TO A HIGH ENOUGH STANDARD TO BEGIN WORK IN A PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN. TO PREVENT THE FURTHER BREAK UP OF THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY, I DEVELOPED THE ABACUS SCALES TO ENCOURAGE AND HELP DEVELOP THE NECESSARY SKILLS THAT THE YOUNGER REFUGEES WOULD NEED TO ALSO GAIN EMPLOYMENT. THIS WOULD ALLOW FAMILIES TO MOVE TOGETHER, RATHER THAN BE SPLIT UP.