The National Emergencies Trust has provided £4,060 of match funding
Helping asylum seekers and refugees find a voice
Riding Mill, Northumberland, United Kingdom
Aim
English for All provides 14 classes a week for asylum seekers and refugees to feel safe and valued both face to face and online via zoom
Who we are
Our committed team, based in the North-East of England, have taught English to asylum seekers and refugees for a number of years. It is our experience that asylum seekers are extremely keen to learn, work and contribute to the society in which they have sought asylum and are therefore committed to acquiring English. However, during the first six months following their arrival in the UK, asylum seekers have no recourse to funding to attend college where accredited courses are available. English For All bridges this gap and offers an opportunity, in a safe, welcoming environment, for beginners to learn and for others to develop existing language skills until more formal study is possible although students have continued to attend our classes even once on college courses.
What we have done
In response to the Covid emergency and with the support and warm encouragement from our students, we have broadened our reach and increased the number of sessions we offer. The pandemic extended the asylum process and created greater isolation and highlighted a digital divide. Our fundraising enabled us to provide 2 laptops and 6 mobile phones to 100 asylum seekers in temporary accommodation. 8 tablets were given to support families and enable access to a safe learning community.
After the War By Sardar (Kurdistan)
After 20 months online, we are starting an exciting new chapter with both online and returning to face-to-face classes and looking forward to collaborating with like-minded organisations and working with our students.
Our students have directly told us that their hopes and aspirations are to:
- adapt to daily life in UK
- achieve their goals
- build a better future
- re-establish their careers
- feel a sense of community and belonging
Trip to Hatton Gallery, 2019
For our students, learning a new language is at the heart of adapting to a new country and we can only achieve this with your continued support.
This project successfully funded on 15th December 2021