English for Employment courses support migrants into work
Hackney Council is working with partners across the borough to deliver eight new English for Employment courses as part of its Integrated Communities programme.
The Integrated Communities programme is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and aims to better support migrant residents in the borough by providing additional help for them to access local services and improve their language and skills.
The new courses are free and open to Hackney residents who would like to move into work or progress into a better job.
We know that most migrants do very well in Hackney, but there are also those whose voices are not heard. Not being able to speak English can be a huge barrier and we want to ensure all migrants have the support they need to prosper. The new English for Employment courses are designed to help migrants achieve a higher level of English and learn more about work in the UK in order to gain employment or move into a better job.
Gozdem Yildiz, who lives in Homerton, is part of the first cohort of English for Employment classes. Although she was born in Hackney, Gozdem grew up in Turkey, where her parents are originally from. She has been living in Hackney for the past eight years and taking English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes to improve her English. After completing her ESOL entry 3 course last year, Gozdem enrolled on the English for Employment course where language learning is integrated with employability workshops and volunteering.
I joined the class so I could improve my communication. I am trying to learn new words and understand the English language. I have not been working previously but my goal is to first get my English better and then hopefully become an interpreter.
As well as sessions in the classroom, students get one-to-one support from a Hackney Works employment advisor and have the chance to get some relevant work experience by volunteering in a local charity.
The next set of courses will start in January 2018 and will run for 12 weeks. There are a range of morning, afternoon and evening classes available at different locations in the borough.
Anyone interested in attending one of the courses in January can attend a registration day on Tuesday 19 December at the Hackney Learning Trust, 1 Reading Lane, London, E8 1GQ. Registration takes place at 10am, 1pm and 6pm.
For more information call 020 8820 7043, email esol@hackney.gov.uk or visit www.learningtrust.co.uk/esol.