News and Events

An archive of research and practice 2008 – 2023 from Beyond the Page, a unique cross- methodology in the provision of English-language education for adults in the UK.

Angela attended a day session in Sheffield exploring restrictions on asylum seekers' right to work, and measures being taken in the city and beyond to challenge this. The session was organised by the University of Sheffield Migration Research Group and the Lift the Ban coalition.

As an addition to its prestigious Hornby Scholarship programme, the A.S. Hornby Educational Trust is inviting applications from experienced teachers of English who are now working with refugee communities in the UK. The successful applicant will join a group of Hornby scholars from a range of different countries to study on a one-year Masters in TESOL at the University of Exeter in the academic year 2024/25.

Read John's reflection on a session organised by Bradford City of Sanctuary and University of Bradford on Recruiting Refugee Talent. Lots of interesting sessions and discussions – but a session that demonstrated the power of volunteering stood out…

These conversations are taking place in three sessions as part of Forced Migration and The Arts. The network encourages mutual support and collaboration, bringing together people with lived experience of forced migration, refugee and non-refugee artists, academics, activists and art spaces for conversation, dialogue and knowledge exchange.

STH Employability recently recorded the online employability workshops that they run for the general public and the recordings can be found here. They are also running these workshops again live on April 5th and so if anyone would like to book on to these please go to this online form: https://forms.office.com/e/cmZHPwzDxE

Comic’s new funding programme, Re-Rooted: Safety and Security for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, is offering grants of up to £200,000 over three to five years for UK organisations with an income of between £250,000 and £10 million. The aim of the Re-Rooted funding call is to help UK organisations address the challenges faced by the migration sector and to support refugees and asylum seekers to rebuild their lives safely and securely in the UK.

Please join us for a face to face ESOL regional networking event on Wednesday 20th March, in Bradford. Meet and share ideas with colleagues supporting ESOL learners, around the topic of collaborative ESOL. See you there!

Follow the link for a new feature delivered by MESH called 'Tell Us More'. In a short 10 minute interview, we find out more about interesting or innovative initiatives for people working in the ESOL sector and others who work with migrants in the Yorkshire & Humber region. In this Tell Us More interview we speak with Professor Emma Marsden of the University of York about the OASIS database – a project to make research on ESOL and other aspects of language learning easily accessible for busy people.

If you have ever wanted to teach ESOL to adults whose first language is not English and you live in the Yorkshire and Humberside area, please take a look at this incredible opportunity from the University of Bolton.

Recently the MESH team met at Leftbank Leeds for a team training session. A warm space which anyone can use for free, with a relaxed atmosphere and a lovely cafe. Here, John reflects on the value for local communities – individuals and groups – of accessible, convivial spaces with lots of room…and good wifi!