A message from Anna...
After an incredible journey, I want to share that I will be stepping back from my role as CEO from September.
From the early days of running a single class for 10 students, we’ve grown into an organisation that now provides education to over 170 refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants every week across Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster. It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to be part of that growth.
Some of my fondest memories include dreaming around the kitchen table with founders Jen and Katy about what might be possible, teaching Syrian refugees vocabulary for plumbing and gynaecology (women's plumbing!) in their living room, seeing our team expand and welcoming Jane and Lucy into leadership, and watching the charity thrive in my absence during maternity leave.
Leaving this role is bittersweet. I am incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together and will miss working alongside our remarkable teachers, staff, volunteers and students day to day. But I have complete confidence in the team I’m leaving behind and know they’ll continue to do even greater things.
Thank you all for your support, belief, and shared commitment to providing education to those who need it most.
Keep up the good work! I can’t wait to see what you do next.
With love and still so much hope,
Anna
Anna and the gang at Anna's Farewell Lunch
Looking back over the last year
As we reach the end of another busy and inspiring year, we’re excited to share some of the highlights, stories, and successes from across our community. From joyful classroom moments to creative fundraisers, it’s been a year of real highlights as we launched our childcare provision and specialist classes for Deaf refugees, two things in particular that we are immensely proud of.
Whether you’ve supported us through teaching, volunteering, giving, or cheering us on from afar, we’re so grateful for everything you do to help us build a welcoming, empowering space for refugees and vulnerable migrants across South Yorkshire. We couldn't do it without you!
We're hugely thankful to have worked with over 230 individuals this year!
Massive thanks to our wonderful team of teachers, staff, volunteers and trustees who work so hard to ensure that every student feels valued and supported.
THANK YOU 💛
Building Confidence and Community in the ESOL/BSL Class
Some reflections from Rhiannon, who taught this class:
I've really enjoyed teaching the ESOL/BSL class. It was a joy to welcome the learners through the door each week and it was a chance for me to use my (rusty) sign language skills. The students bonded well as a group and gained confidence - helping and teaching each other, laughing with the Deaf classroom volunteer, celebrating progress and jokingly telling each other off. We even celebrated a birthday with rather a lot of cake. The interpreter did a brilliant job of explaining and providing extra context and insights for the learners and for me. The students use different languages and sign languages, so I didn't know how it would work at first, but having the extra people in the classroom made it all possible and really opened a door for these students.
What the Learners Said
They enjoyed learning English and said it made them smile.
They appreciated learning to sign and expressed a strong desire for the classes to continue.
Some suggested longer or more frequent lessons to help with retention and confidence.
The interpreter Jules, commented on the wider impact of the class: many Deaf learners can feel isolated – not only from the hearing community, but also from the local Deaf community if they don’t yet use BSL. This class gave them a place to connect, develop a stronger identity, and feel part of a group that shares similar experiences.
A Positive Experience for All
The co-ordinated hard work of teacher, interpreter and Deaf volunteer has made this class a real success and the learners showed impressive dedication, attending consistently and engaging actively with lessons and homework.
As a result, they built strong relationships, grew in confidence, and were able to express themselves more fully. All of them reported making progress – well done everyone!
ESOL with Childcare - a success!
This term we finally launched our first class with our own creche service running alongside. This was a women only class, made up primarily of mums from Eritrea who attend the toddler group at the church where the class is held.
Most of the women have attended ESOL classes in the past and have stopped due to having children. There is a mix of levels and they have (inevitably) all lost some confidence in this time away from learning English.
Lessons have focused on practical, everyday topics such as introducing themselves, chatting with other mums, and making appointments. The atmosphere in the classroom is warm and supportive. Learners are comfortable speaking and sharing their ideas, even when there are occasional interruptions from little ones needing comfort. Some younger children sit with their mums during part of the lesson, but Carman and her wonderful team of crèche volunteers are doing an excellent job creating a fun, safe space for the children.
This group is proving to be a gentle and encouraging re-entry into learning - building language skills, confidence, and community along the way.
We plan to continue this class after the summer and hopefully start running our creche service alongside some other classes too - we need more volunteers to make this possible. Could you help?
Support Refugee Families - Volunteer at Our Crèche!
We're looking for kind, patient volunteers to support refugee children while their parents learn English. Just a couple of hours a week can make a huge difference.
Your help can make families feel safe, supported, and welcome.
Join us and be part of something meaningful.
Get in touch today!
My week at Hope English School by Ruben De Almeida
We recently had the pleasure of hosting Ruben on his year 12 work experience. He spent the week learning about the work we do and visited the majority of our classes. If you have ever wanted to know about what the different classes are like, Ruben has been your eyes and ears and has put it all in a blog, which is available to read on our website now!
The Hope Hoppers Take on the Inflatable 5K!
On September 12th, a team of eight brave (and slightly overconfident!) friends — now known as The Hope Hoppers — will tackle the world’s biggest inflatable obstacle course in Bakewell, Derbyshire, all to raise £1,000 for Hope English School.
They’ll be bouncing, sliding, climbing — and likely falling — their way through 5K of giant inflatable chaos, in support of our work!.
How You Can Help:
Donate: Clilck the button below to donate - every pound goes directly to supporting our students and teachers.
Share: Spread the word!
Cheer them on: They’ll need all the encouragement they can get halfway up an inflatable mountain!
Thanks for helping us turn a bouncy challenge into something truly meaningful!
Thanks to all who came to Painting and Prosecco
Huge thanks to all those who came along to our Painting and Prosecco fundraising evening. A fabulous time was had by all and the creativity and fun in the room was wonderful.
Together, we raised an amazing £360 to support our classes for Deaf refugees, a fantastic result and a truly successful evening all round!
Family Quiz - a super success!
Hope Fundraisers: Always an Adventure!
There’s something about a Hope English School fundraiser that seems to invite extreme weather! At The Altonators we braved a blizzard, and at this summer’s Family Quiz Night, we sweated it out in 30-degree heat!
Thankfully, the fundraising bar was well-stocked and well-used as everyone worked to stay cool. The evening was full of friendly competition, laughter, and community spirit.
Congratulations to our quiz winners, and a big thank you to everyone who came along — together we raised £340 to support our classes for Deaf refugees!
We want to say a big goodbye and thank you to our wonderful volunteers Anita and Rachel who are leaving us. They were both a fantastic part of the team and a great support to our teachers and students, we will really miss them both!
Together, We Can Make a Difference
Let’s come together to support refugees and those seeking asylum in Sheffield, particularly those who face added challenges and barriers to their learning.
Hope starts with language, and language opens doors to a brighter future.
Thank you for standing with us. Your support transforms lives.
Warm regards,
The Hope English School Team
📧 enquiries@hopeenglishschool.org
🌐 www.hopeenglishschool.org