News and Events

MESH volunteer and Gold para weightlifting champion OSCAR talks about how both weighlifting and volunteering are helping him shape his future career.

• Politics
• Progression

Sally Wookey works for Lincoln College, and has written a Substack blog about the recent decision taken by the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority to de-fund ESOL and divert the funds to literacy programs. An interesting and timely read.

Our May ESOL Lunchtime Showcase focuses on strategies for delivering Pre-Entry ESOL, continuing the theme of our spring Networking event

• Asylum seekers and Refugees
• Teacher training

As part of the Swift Project’s training programme, they are offering a full day North Yorkshire Conversation Club Workshop. This workshop would be suitable for North Yorkshire based VCSE leads, facilitators, ESOL tutors and volunteers, anyone who runs or would like to run an informal conversation club for people whose first language is not English.

• Job opportunity

We are looking to hire an Expert by Experience to be a Project Support Worker on our Exploring and Belonging project. Please share widely with your groups.

• Research

The next meeting for the ESOL Research Community will be held on 23rd April from 4 – 5.30pm via Teams. As always, this is free to attend and everyone is welcome.

• Asylum seekers and Refugees

The New to Sheffield website is live – with everything new arrivals in Sheffield need to settle in – from housing and health to jobs, education and community life.

PhD researcher Sharon Freeman from Leicester University has written this excellent article in The Conversation. Although this is not news to us in ESOL, it is great to see this message being spread via articles like Sharon's.

In May 2026, community and faith groups, plus charities big and small, will come together to celebrate and inspire A Million Acts of Hope across Britain. There is far more that connects us than divides us. Here's how to get involved.

• Asylum seekers and Refugees
• Progression

Arguably the best part of being a MESH Development Worker is getting out and about, visiting community organisations and seeing the brilliant work happening right on our doorstep.

• Teacher training

At a recent Bradford College Teachmeet event, I heard Vicky Palmer (Level 7 PG Dip) do a presentation on the importance of Extensive reading entirely in rhyme. She has kindly allowed me to share it here – please enjoy!

The Yorkshire and Humber Natecla Committee would like to invite NATECLA members based in the Yorkshire and Humber region to a networking brunch.