The English Club
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be unable to speak or understand English? It's a reality that most asylum seekers and refugees face when they come to England. Asylum seekers may not attend an English course (ESOL) until they have been here for 6 months, and even then there are waiting lists.
The 'English Club' was created in partnership with Blackburn Cathedral and Wesley Hall after consultation with asylum seekers about what they wanted from the library service. It aims to provide a place to practise English in a social environment.
The club started with books supplied by the library service, and a library officer attends once every 2 weeks. Three years on, the club is still going strong, running every Friday, 10 -12 noon, at Wesley Hall. It has expanded to take up 3 rooms and has an average attendance of 45 people. Whole families often attend and, as no cr¸che facilities are available, the sessions can become quite lively.
The club relies on volunteers, and their efforts were recognised when they won the Borough's 'Volunteers Week' award for promoting community cohesion in 2008.
The club is now divided into three groups:
Beginners -concentrating on the alphabet and simple words
Intermediate - practising grammar exercises and sentence construction
Advanced - reading, talking and discovering English culture. (The Advanced group were chosen to judge the ERF Languages Learners Literature award this year)
The Club relies on grants for funding, and the partnership approach has ensured considerable success with applications, mostly for relatively modest amounts.
The effect the club has on its members is profound. They not only learn English but also make new friends. It gives people confidence, and they feel comfortable there. Members often ask for it to be on every day of the week, as they enjoy it so much. Below are some quotes from club members:
"Angela's English Club is more than a class, it gives hope. I did not think that I would ever understand this country. Now I know I can."
"I enjoy reading the books. I like the stories, it helps me learn English."
"Thank you. I got into college."
"I like the club. It stops me from being sad when I'm here. I like to learn about freedom in England"
For more information on the club and its activities, contact:
