“There will be no community without first communing” 

– Nora Bateson

And communing* without communication is simply impossible.  Helping others learn English can help you understand the reasons behind their journeys and learn about richness of cultures they come from. Of course, it will also help them to link with people who will welcome them into our communities. 

Do you know, that in Bedford, there are migrants that have lived in the UK for over 30 years, but haven’t yet learned English?

This isn’t because they don’t want to. For many, it’s because they haven’t had the opportunity to be a part of a network that would introduce them to this learning. 

The effects? People living in alienation and disconnection from both the community and essential services. 

Instead, we could have a culture of vibrant communication and exchange of ideas leading to fuller understanding and connection between people from different backgrounds … Communing to form our community.

For that reason, we wanted to open opportunities for the people that cannot speak English, to be able to start their language learning journey in our classes. 

If we want a strong community – we need to help them. 

*To commune: to get very close to someone or something by exchanging feelings or thoughts. (Cambridge Dictionary Definition) 

About Our ESOL Classes

PBIC is a local charity based in Bedford, which aims to support migrants to settle, achieve, and contribute. An important element of PBIC’s services is the delivery of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes.

Students at PBIC are introduced to learning through a 3 session “Step into English” entry level course funded by the National Community Fund as part of the “Warm Welcome” project. This helps teachers analyse the level of English the students are at, and assign them to the correct class. 

Lessons are then delivered for learners of various levels of English, including pre-entry and intermediate, from both the PBIC office and CVS Bedford on Bromham Road. Over the past year, we have also worked closely with BESA and Bedford College to deliver additional classes to meet the growing demand. Ultimately, since October 2024 we have delivered 9 English courses supporting a total of 118 learners. Courses are taught in an interactive way, promoting connections and communication between students.

Creative Learning 

One recent highlight from PBIC English classes was an art-themed session that perfectly combined language learning with creativity. As ESOL teacher Chris shared: 

“We had a lovely art-themed session where students did a listening exercise about Japanese immersive art, then we learned some relevant vocabulary about describing art/photos/scenery, did a bit of art interpretation (practicing the speaking), and finished off with a guided art workshop from the legendary Bob Ross — cleverly assisting their listening and following instructions. They were very proud to show off their work!”

One student even shared:

 ‘Wow I needed this… it makes you forget about bad things in life and problems and now leave feeling happy.’

PBIC classes wouldn’t be what they are without the creativity and dedication of teachers — and in recent years, the charity has had to rely on volunteers to teach certain classes more than ever. Thanks to these volunteer teachers, PBIC were able to provide more classes than expected this year. Thank you to all of them for making this possible. 

The Ongoing Need for Accessible ESOL classes

While the past year has been full of learning and integration, there are still migrants seeking to learn English. Currently, there are 94 individuals on the PBIC ESOL waiting list. Some have lived in the UK but haven’t yet had the opportunity to develop their skills. Others have been isolated or were unaware of available learning provision, and some are seeking to continue learning.

And although the need and desire to learn English is clear, access to free ESOL classes remains limited — mainly due to a lack of funding specifically for English courses for speakers of other languages. 

The majority of people on our waiting list are at pre-entry level, highlighting a significant need for those first-step English opportunities. Community-based lessons are particularly important at this level, as they enable learners to develop naturally alongside others in an environment that isn’t focused on grades or passing tests, but on building confidence and learning itself.

How to Help Migrants Access English Lessons

With limited funding available for ESOL provision, community support has become essential in making sure migrants can access the English lessons they need. This is why PBIC are once again taking part in the Bedford Running Festival to raise money for PBIC’s ESOL classes.

Last year, PBIC staff and volunteers raised £3,720 by running this event. That support helped deliver 9 English courses for 118 learners. 

This year, a dedicated group of PBIC staff, volunteers, friends and family are lacing up their running shoes to help change that and ensure PBIC can continue delivering free ESOL classes for those who need them most. 

PBIC is aiming to raise around £10,000, and every pound will go directly toward providing more life-changing English lessons. 

Check out the links to our runners’ GoFundMe pages below!