Celebrating community, growth, and new beginnings
As spring arrives in Sheffield, we’re embracing a season of change and new beginnings—something we see reflected in the work we do every day at Hope English School.
There’s a lot happening right now: new classes, new team members, and fresh opportunities for our learners to connect and grow. From launching our ESOL/BSL courses to preparing for the opening of our first childcare service, it’s a busy and exciting time. We’ve even been finding inspiration in the small things—like writing poetry inspired by the spring blossom.
We've also got some really exciting events and fundraising campaigns coming up which we would love you to be involved in!
Thanks for being part of this journey with us. We’re excited to share what we’ve been up to and what’s ahead—and we couldn’t do it without your continued support.
Classes for Deaf Learners - they're happening!!
L-R: Jane Middleton HES Class Co-ordinator, Rhiannon Price HES Teacher, Sharon Hirshman from Sheffield City Council and Jules Varga from Communilink/Famlingo.
After more than a year since our first conversations, and many months of planning and fundraising, we are thrilled to announce that our combined ESOL/BSL classes for Deaf refugees will be starting in the coming weeks!
The photo above was taken during our student registration session—a huge undertaking made possible thanks to the incredible support of Sharon, Jules and a team of Deaf volunteers. Some of the prospective learners arrived with no knowledge of BSL, no English, and limited or no literacy in their first language.
This class truly reflects the heart of what we do at Hope English School: creating opportunities for those who might otherwise be excluded from education. We know these classes will come with challenges, but with the right support, we're confident we can help our learners improve their ability to communicate with those around them—reducing isolation and bringing hope.
Childcare - one step closer....
We’re excited to share that, with the appointment of our new Childcare Co-ordinator, Carman, we’re one step closer to launching our very own childcare service!
Carman has hit the ground running—recruiting volunteers, arranging safeguarding and first aid training, and preparing all the equipment and resources we’ll need. We’re aiming to launch our first class, complete with its own crèche, after the May half-term, with more already in the pipeline.
Far too many prospective learners are unable to attend classes due to childcare barriers. By running our crèche alongside our classes, we hope to remove that obstacle and open doors that were previously closed to many.
New classes going well!
We have recently partnered with FURD (Football Unites, Racism Divides) and have starting running classes at the U-mix centre for women in the community.
The classes at U-mix bring together a wide range of women who want to improve their English. Many have busy family lives here, which has made it difficult for them to attend classes up to now, while others have just recently arrived. The atmosphere in the class is really positive and collaborative!
Thanks to the success of these ESOL classes, we began exploring the idea of launching a Digital Skills course here, which we're plan to start after the Easter break.
From the classroom...
Amid the ongoing political turmoil surrounding Ukraine, Kim offered her Ukrainian students a moment of calm and reflection—introducing them to the word blossom, which was new to them all.
They explored photos of blossom, discussed where they had seen it before, the colours, and the feelings it evoked. Kim also shared some Haiku poems as inspiration before setting the class a creative challenge: come up with two adjectives, a place where you’ve seen blossom, and describe it using a simile.
The result? Three beautiful, original poems that captured the essence of blossom through their own words.
Thank you!
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who braved the weather to join us, for our first ever charity gig! The Altonators put on a spectacular show that really kicked off 2025 with a bang, and helped raise £500 for our classes for Deaf learners! Incredible!
If you missed it, fear not, we're hoping to do it all again later in the year!
‘Books of Hope’ Campaign
Did you know that a UNESCO 2022 report shows that only 60% of adult refugees are literate, far below the global average of 86.3%. In the UK, where the literacy rate is 99%, only 75% of refugees reach functional literacy in English (Migration Observatory, 2024).
Access to the right reading materials can make a real difference. Let’s change the stats together!
That's why we want to build our own Easy Reader Books lending library, giving students access to books that are just right for their age, culture, and reading level.
It costs £5.20 to purchase one Easy Reader Book and £120 will enable us to purchase a set of 23 books, getting our library off to a really great start!
Every donation makes a difference!
The Inflatable 5k
Looking for a fun-filled challenge the whole family can enjoy? Join Team Hope as we take on the Chatsworth Inflatable 5K—a thrilling event suitable for adults and children aged 5 and up!
Get ready to jump, slide, and bounce your way through the world’s BIGGEST and most EPIC inflatable obstacle course!
Corporate Fundraising
Is your business looking to improve its corporate social responsibility? Would you like to make a real difference to the lives of refugees and people seeking asylum in South Yorkshire?
Becoming a corporate partner can help us to provide life-changing support to the people we work with. Last year we supported over 200 individuals and with your help we could change more lives.
There are a number of ways your business can help us, from financial donations, to sponsoring one of our students or classes or taking part in fundraising opportunities.
We are currently looking for sponsorship for our upcoming quiz night - get in touch if you think you can help!
We are delighted to welcome Carman and Anita to the Hope English School Team!
Carman is a dedicated volunteer at a community library in Sheffield, bringing a passion for education and community engagement. With nine years of experience in the marketing and events industry in China, she has a strong background in creative strategy and project management. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, hiking, and running marathons. Carman joins the team as our new childcare co-ordinator.
Anita is a historian by training, but a language lover at heart, who believes in the transformational power of language skills and communication. She completed her CELTA in August 2024 and views the opportunity to volunteer with Hope English School as a brilliant way to build experience and confidence, while giving back to the community and making a difference where it’s needed the most. We're delighted to have Anita as part of our team of Classroom volunteers.
