Pilot language courses test the water for refugees and other migrants

Pilot language courses test the water for refugees and other migrants

The University of Wolverhampton’s International Academy and Chaplaincy is working with the Refugee & Migrant Centre in Wolverhampton alongside Transforming Communities Together (a partnership between the Church Urban Fund and Lichfield Diocese) to provide English language courses for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants who are living in or near Wolverhampton.

The pilot project will benefit up to 80 vulnerable individuals who are accessing services through the Wolverhampton Refugee & Migrant Centre and will see staff provide a six week course of English language lessons for two different groups – one for those who have limited English and another for those who do not speak any English.

Paul Hackwood, Executive Chair of the Church Urban Fund, which has funded the initial project, said: “We are very excited to see this excellent work taking place in Wolverhampton; this kind of collaboration to strengthen communities and invest in individuals is central to the work of Church Urban Fund and our Together Network.

“To build a platform for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers so that they stand a real chance to contribute and engage with their community, as well as provide stability for themselves and their families, is of great importance. I hope that pioneering collaborations between charities, the church, and universities can be replicated elsewhere as we work to build stronger communities.”

Rachel Henley, Business Development and Project Manager at the University of Wolverhampton’s International Academy, said:  “We are providing two different levels of English language classes, focusing on delivering fun sessions on everyday English to help people settle in to their day to day lives in the UK.  We are keen to see how successful the classes are in order for us to assess how the project can be expanded and continued beyond the life of the pilot project to further assist in the settlement of people who are now living in and around Wolverhampton.”

ENDS

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Date issued: 12th February 2016