This external evaluation of Creative English highlights the effectiveness of the programme in not only improving learners’ English ability, but also in fostering belonging, community and integration for those that take part. Read the evaluation here
Creative English was featured in a case study for Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham, which highlights the impact of community and connection on mental health and wellbeing. The Creative English team run sessions for people with little or no English to build their confidence and language skills for everyday situations like talking to neighbours, doctors, teachers,
Dr Anne Smith as published a new Open Access article in the Scenario journal, entitled “You are contagious”: The Role of the Facilitator in Fostering Self-Efficacy in Learners. The article identifies kinaesthetic approaches to facilitating a learner in role, which help to lower the affective filter, and support learner progression in a mixed ability group.
Dr Anne Smith has published an OpenAccess article in the ArtsPraxis journal, entitled “They have become my family”: Reciprocity and responsiveness in a volunteer-led program for refugees and migrants. Creative English is an applied theatre program that supports English language learning for adult refugees and migrants in the UK. The program is shaped by an
Working with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals, we developed and delivered a unique Creative English programme designed to teach conversational English skills to international hospital staff. From this, a case study was produced that details the programme and the benefits that it brought to both staff and patients. Read the case study on NHS
Dr. Anne Smith has published an Open Access article in the latest issue of the SCENARIO journal of language, culture, and literature. This article argues that play and creativity are cornerstones of a person-centred approach to adult second language education. However, when learners are refugees, asylum seekers or migrants already living in the country where
Subscribers to the journal RaPAL (Research and Practice in Adult Literacies) can read about Anne’s journey to develop Creative English in her article, ‘‘Laugh your way to confident English’: A volunteer-led approach to meeting the needs of migrants’ in their summer edition. The article describes the impact of learning through fun and laughter for participants
We have 23 learners on our records this year and an average class is between 6-9 people. All our learners are female[…]. We are finding the majority of our learners are attending the course in order to build up their confidence when out in the community, although two ladies were attending to work towards their
The paper, “What’s in a name? Shifts in identity, delivery and impact in a national volunteer-led programme using applied drama to learn English” by FaithAction’s Dr Anne Smith and Bobby Smith was published in ‘Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance’, Volume 20, Issue 4. More information on the paper can
FaithAction are proud to announce the launch of an External Evaluation of the Creative English programme, completed by the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University. The Creative English programme is making a positive difference to the lives of low- and intermediate-proficiency speakers of English. Learners are made welcome in an accessible,
Creative English was featured as a case study in On Speaking Terms, a report by think-tank Demos on the state of provision of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in England and how it compares with other nations. Our research identifies a number of advantages associated with English ability, which extend far beyond the
The paper, ‘Maximizing empowerment in applied theatre with refugees and migrants in the United Kingdom: Facilitation shaped by an ethic of care’ by FaithAction’s Dr. Anne Smith was published in The Journal of Arts & Communities, Volume 6, Issue 2-3. The paper draws on evidence from Creative English to argue for “the value of fostering
I just wanted to share a story from the week before half term. We were doing the first session of going to the doctors. At the local surgery, if you want an appointment for the same day, you have to wait for a call back from the GP to assess how urgent your need is.
In addition to running a Creative English class, Trescom received a grant from the Creative English Innovation Fund to set up a Sewing Club to help bring the local community together by exploring the textile history of the area. The learner below told us about how she volunteers to help the Sewing Club after taking
The Harold Road Centre had previously been running an accredited English class until funding was cut, and decided to continue with informal English classes to complement their Literacy class. They felt Creative English offered the holistic experience they desired, and many of their learners now continue their experience through a newly-formed conversation club. Pavana is
The Community Resources Hub in Dagenham works to build community cohesion in its local area. It is primarily staffed by local volunteers who are passionate about sharing in the development of their community. Sally Dixon, the Hub’s facilitator, told us about one of their learners. Elsa has been coming to class for 8 months now.
Pendle Women’s Forum support the women of the Pendle area with advice and guidance. In addition to running a Creative English class, they have also received a grant from the Creative English Innovation Fund for their ‘Cook, Chai, Chat’ project, where women work together to bake cakes and put on afternoon tea for the community.
The Oasis Drop-in Centre serves as a place of both community and learning, helping people find the local services they need and supporting them to gain better confidence and language skills. The team at the Oasis Centre told us about a mother-daughter pair that joined their Creative English class together. “Amina” and her daughter “Mariam”
Project BME provide numerous services, from advice and advocacy and mentoring to training and capacity-building for other organisations, across Lancashire. Their Creative English class is run at the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy in Blackburn. Programme leader Zed Ali told us about some of those involved in the class: Karim said Creative English classes would allow
Souri stands out due to her commitment, energy and willingness to go above and beyond and use the Creative English methodology to meet the wider needs of the participants she works with. The first training that she attended as part of her involvement in the programme focused on using drama for language learning. Souri had
The Creative English class at the Loxford Children’s Centre in Ilford is led by Sue Griffin, who has written about her experiences before. Last year, local MP Mike Gapes came to a class to see how Creative English is changing people’s lives. Sue told us about one of her learners who started volunteering to help
Creative English is developed and run by FaithAction, a national network of faith-based organisations.
Are you a community organisation in Greater Manchester that’s interested in delivering Creative English for Health?
Find out more about the funding available by joining our Online Information Session on Thursday 7th September at 10:30am. Get in touch for more details!
