Education for young refugees
English-language support is a core part of our offer and runs through all our activities as well as being a distinct programme.
English-language mentoring and ESOL provision, together with homework support, run at our weekly Advice & Support Hubs. During lockdowns, we recruited many volunteers and moved this programme online, with great success.
We also run a peer-support ESOL programme at the Wembley campus of the College of North-West London.
Why does access to education matter to young refugees?
English language learning has been a core part of our offer for many years, as English-language skills are critical to young refugees’ social integration, the fulfilment of their potential and aspirations, and their ability to meaningfully contribute to and participate in their local communities. The young people we work with have a strong drive and desire to learn English as part of building their new life in the UK.
Peer Support
We run a successful peer support English-language program at the College of North-West London (CNWL). Peer mentors are matched, in college, to mentees, and they are all brought together in a class environment, led by and supported by our Youth Development Coordinator.
This programme was paused for the 20/21 academic year, however, in partnership with CNWL's ESOL department, we resumed the programme in September 2021. CNWL and Young Roots work together to support and train peer mentors, and to recruit mentees.
The social and educational nature of our Peer Support programme enables young refugees with good knowledge of English to use their skills and pass on their knowledge to newly arrived young people.
ESOL
Our ESOL classes matches young people with experienced volunteer tutors to develop their English communication skills, in person or on Zoom.
When resources permit, we offer one-to-one sessions tailored to individual learning needs. Assistance with college applications and homework is also offered.
The classes boost young people’s confidence in expressing themselves, meeting new people and feeling more comfortable in a new country and culture.
Online English Learning
English conversation clubs are part of our weekly Hubs, where young refugees get together, engage in youth activities and access support.
Our volunteer-led English conversation club runs for 1 hour within the Hubs, offering homework support and the chance to practice English-language skills in a friendly and non-structured environment.
During the pandemic, we moved this provision online with considerable success, recruiting many new volunteers. Young people are matched with a volunteer for 8 weeks.