Language for Change

Language for Change provides support for migrants and refugees in Greenwich to learn English and advocate for change for social issues affecting them.

The project provides free weekly English as a Second Language (ESOL) lessons delivered by teachers and project leaders and each week there are beginners and mixed level classes for people learning English as well as a conversational class for English speakers of any level to meet and talk to one another. Classes are conducted in person and online to accommodate as many members as possible.

The ESOL sessions are a foundation for group members to learn English and work towards improving the social issues they face in Greenwich, such as access to healthcare, unfit housing and hate crime. EFA uses a community organising approach and works with members on campaigns that are raising awareness and trying to improve the quality of life of migrants and refugees.

The project also runs sessions on employment to help remove some of the barriers many people face when English is not their first language. This includes skills such as CV and cover letter writing as well as arranging volunteering and identifying job opportunities for its members.

Many members are migrant and refugee mothers with young children and the project provides a free creche so that members with young children can attend face to face classes.