Friends for English

Imagine being a refugee or an asylum seeker, ending up in a city you had never even heard of. Probably not knowing your way around, or how things work. Probably not knowing anybody or being able to speak or understand much English.

Twice a week around 60 volunteer befreinders and learners meet in the heart of the community. Although participants are from very different backgrounds, the common goal of learning English brings people together harmoniously.

We have tailor-made materials on a weekly theme (such as education in UK, taking a bus, going to the dentist) and support from the coordinator. Learners are also free to choose to learn what they want, how they want. Several learners have never been in a classroom before, due to poverty, war or discrimination in their homeland. They are very proud to have become functionally literate, having worked hard with their Primary School teacher befriender.

Here is what some members of our community have to say about Friends for English:

Invisible Dust recently invited us to the launch of their Sewerby Cookbook, which our befrienders and learners contributed to:

We are currently making a Friends for English library to encourage learners to practise English at home. The library will also have resources about teaching and about the lives of refugees and asylum seekers, for befrienders to borrow.

Thank you for your interest in our project.

Donations will help refugees and asylum seekers to have a better start to their new lives in Hull.

To find out how to participate in our project

Follow our progress on Facebook