Join Us

The English Conversation Club is a part of the Creative Arts and Skills Programme (CASP). The English class is a safe space for clients to improve their English at their own pace, making friends and immersing themselves in learning to forget some of their daily challenges, whilst being continuously supported by our team of dedicated staff and volunteers throughout their journey.

The English class runs weekly. It’s a friendly space for clients of all language and literacy abilities to practice their English together and develop the confidence to later enrol in a formal college ESOL course. Some clients are already in college and use the conversation club as extra practice.

This volunteer will work with the other volunteer teacher to develop new class material, and will alternate fortnightly as the main teacher and the support teacher.

Main tasks and activities:

• Plan, prepare and deliver high quality English language teaching that meets the differing needs of our clients, taking into account individual learning styles
• Monitor progress and provide regular feedback to each student throughout the term
• Take part in education and training events or schemes as required by the programme
• Keep accurate and timely registers, plus records of travel and other expenses
• Contribute to the development, evaluation, and improvement of the English class, in order to meet learners needs by actively working as a member of the CASP at HBF

Skills and experience needed:

• Understanding of, and commitment to, the objectives of the Helen Bamber Foundation;
• A demonstrable empathy for our vulnerable clients, including asylum seekers, refugees and survivors of torture and trafficking;
• An understanding of the challenges facing our client group;
• Punctual, reliable and self-motivated with a positive, ’can-do’ attitude;
• Hold a Basic ESOL Subject Specialist qualification (e.g. TEFL, CELTA, university degree);
• Proven experience of teaching as an ESOL/EFL teacher ;
• Experience of informal and community education;
• Experience working with vulnerable people;
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage own time and workload, and to prioritise a range of competing demands;
• Experience of administrative systems, for example handling petty cash.

What you will get out of the role:

• A strong understanding of how HBF’s integration programmes contribute to the well-being of our clients;
• An appreciation of the processes and systems that asylum seekers and refugees deal with in the UK;
• Increased experience and confidence in teaching English as a second language;
• Increased teamwork skills;
• An ability to multi-task between competing priorities.

Please provide a Cover Letter along with your CV to be considered for this role.