ESOL PROJECT TRANSFORMS LIVES AND WINS NATIONAL AWARD
The Faith Regen Foundation: Work Focused ESOL Project in Tower Hamlets, has transformed the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people living in London and helped them get jobs. Their dedication and commitment to learning is being recognised with an Inspiring Projects Award - sponsored by the Open University - as part of the 20th Adult Learners’ Week 14 - 20 May 2011.
The Faith Regen Foundation is a Muslim-inspired, multi-faith national charity which works in the employment sector to secure sustainable jobs for the most disadvantaged individuals, including ethnic minorities and women. It has a strong track record of achieving targets and outcomes to ensure positive change. The organisation’s ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) project is based in Tower Hamlets, one of the UK’s poorest boroughs, which has a large South Asian population. Many of its members have gone through their lives without speaking English.
The project’s aim is to break down social barriers, isolation and poverty. It has improved social mobility, enhanced social cohesion and helped people to lead fully assimilated lives. One of its most striking achievements is in the numbers of Bengali women - an often overlooked section of society - who attend courses. Originally the project’s target was to engage 56 people, but this has doubled. Staff also work hard with local businesses to gain work experience and routes into full-time work for learners.
Alan Tuckett, NIACE Chief Executive, said, “The stories of our award winners once again this year, the 20th Adult Learners’ Week, illustrate the overwhelmingly positive impact that learning has on people’s lives. The transformation that those taking part in the Faith Regen Foundation: Work Focused ESOL Project have experienced is due to their dedication, persistence and ambition. I hope that adults across the country will be inspired by their story to take up learning and discover for themselves a whole new life.”
For more information about the Faith Regen Foundation: Work Focused ESOL Project contact: Mujahidul Islam on 0208 211 9430 or miriyaj@faithregenuk.org
For further information on Adult Learners’ Week please contact:
Ed Melia, NIACE Head of Media, on 0116 204 4248 or 07795 358 870.
Marie Koupparis, NIACE Press Officer on 0116 204 4279 or 07824 481 499 or email: marie.koupparis@niace.org.uk
Please see the Press Release from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, England and Wales (NIACE) here
Faith Regen Foundation received Learn Direct acheivement award !
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The Faith Regen Foundation won the Small/medium Company Award, sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, which recognises businesses that have supported learndirect training, recognising the part that learndirect can play in supporting business goals. |
Client Success stories:
CYNTHIA JOSEPH
Cynthia Joseph was a recently made redundant from her job at ‘Adams Children’s Wear’ without any prior notice. She visited the job centre who referred her to Faith Regen’s employment programme. After discussing her career options and ambitions with an advisor, Faith Regen secured Cynthia a volunteer placement working at Primark on Wembley High Road. Within a few weeks, Primark offered Cynthia a job which not only helped her reestablish her self in the working environment, but also catered for her child care commitments.
‘I am really happy with the job I am currently in, and I am grateful to Faith Regen for finding me the placement.’ Cynthia Joseph
DIGBY AUSTIN
Digby Austin is a single parent who had been out of work for three years looking after his young children. He had previous experience in managerial roles working for the Royal Mail and a delivery company. Digby wanted to work towards a better future for his family and wanted to get back into work. During his time on Faith Regen’s six week job search plan, he had one-to-one sessions with an advisor who helped him work on his CV to enhance his chances of finding a suitable job. After completing an application form to work with the TV licensing company, he was offered the job
‘…your service helped me with setting up an email account, accessing the computer and with updating my CV.’ Digby Austin
SUNITA
Sunita came from India as a new bride 16 years ago; she lives with her 2 children and her husband who is also unemployed.
She attended school in India up to the age of 13 and has no other formal education. The only work experience she has is in the form of voluntary work as a childminder in 2002. This was because she was unable to make phone calls or attend any place where she needed to speak English without an interpreter.
She therefore, started at a course at Faith Regen Foundation at the beginning of March 2010. She had Basic English skills, her speaking and listening was at a higher level than her reading and writing. She was a very quiet and shy person initially but adapted to the class environment quite quickly.
At the end of her 13 week course she progressed from pre entry to Entry Level 1 across all of the four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). Her confidence shot up and she is able to do everyday jobs herself which she could not do before; joining the library, applying for jobs on the phone and taking phone calls.
She wants to progress and improve her English skills and has joined other courses. In the future she wants to do a childminding course and work in a nursery.
She is much happier now that she is able to have choices for her future, and she is confident in her abilities to communicate with people.