ESOL NI E-zine – Autumn 2025 (November updates)
Visit our website: ESOL NI
You can find the new ‘ESOL NI translated searching instructions’ PDF poster in 7 different languages below:
Feel free to print and share the information.
Section One: FE Colleges News and Updates
The North West Regional College receives College of Sanctuary Award
North West Regional College (NWRC) has received the College of Sanctuary Award in recognition of its ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming environment for people seeking sanctuary.
The accreditation is awarded to colleges that have undergone improvements in practices to support refugees and people seeking asylum and help raise awareness among students, staff and the wider community. It also recognises places of education that show outstanding commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and understanding among its diverse student community.
NWRC Recognised as a ‘College for All’ Through Sanctuary Status | North West Regional College
LEARNER ALERT!!! Belfast Met ESOL applications open again on 2nd December
Belfast Met ESOL applications for January 2026 learner’s intake will open again with new opportunities for enrolment.
It will include ESOL classes and new programmes starting on the next academic semester of 25/26 at Millfield, Girdwood and Titanic college sites.
Please click here to apply – Link will only go live Tuesday – 2nd December at 2pm.
Economy Minister officially opens new ESOL Unit at Belfast Metropolitan College
Located in the city centre, the newly refurbished 355-square-metre space at the Millfield Campus provides a modern, bright and welcoming teaching and learning environment.
It includes three dedicated ESOL teaching rooms, a computer classroom, a quiet room, a social space for informal interaction and meeting areas to support both staff and student engagement.
‘SAVE THE DATE’ – ESOL Event at Northern Regional College (NRC)
Save the Date for an ESOL event at NRC, Causeway campus, on 20th February: it’s primarily a morning to celebrate and support ESOL providers/teachers sharing good practice – 9.30am to 12pm.
Watch the space! – More information to be shared soon via the ESOL NI upcoming updates.
SERC started an ESOL Book Club at Lisburn City Library every first Wednesday of the month from 3pm – 5pm. Intermediate (B1+) level English and above learners are encouraged to attend.
Please contact Thomas Le Seelleur at TLeSeelleur@serc.ac.uk for any further details.
Section Two: Community News and Updates
Sanctuary in Belfast – A Celebration of Welcome and Hope Event on Thursday, 27 November 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM at Belfast City Hall.
This celebration is an opportunity to bring together partners and changemakers — those who have played a vital role in nurturing compassion, community spirit, and hope across our city.
Register to attend by using the link below
https://events.humanitix.com/sanctuary-in-belfast-a-celebration-of-welcome-and-hope
or by scanning the QR code:
Queen’s University Belfast Sanctuary Coffee Morning – Books and Libraries:
📚 Libraries of Sanctuary
📅 Wednesday, 3 December
🕙 10:00am – 12:00 noon
📍 Sanctuary Room, 48 University Road
Everyone is welcome – including refugees and those seeking asylum. Children are welcome too (with supervision). Free children’s books to give away as gifts on the day!
Tea, coffee, and cakes – including a tour of the McClay Library at Queen’s.
Find out how to register for our free, 1-year Associate Library Membership scheme for those seeking sanctuary.
👉 Register to attend here: http://go.qub.ac.uk/scm-libraries
Belfast City Council’s small grants scheme is open for applications for activity taking place from April 2026 – March 2027
Click here to apply Portal homepage – Belfast City Council
The submission deadline for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Friday 9 January 2026.
If you have any questions or would like some advice on accessing an application or completing your application, please contact our Central Grants Unit at cgugrants@belfastcity.gov.uk
Section Three: ESOL Sector – Updates and Opportunities
Useful tool to ESOL learners: Padlet of translations on ‘How to access and use Zoom in ESOL classes’
https://padlet.com/rachel_oner/translated-zoom-guides-x50sl3l543v0u2vj
Thanks to Rachel Oner and contributors for pulling this resource together.
NATECLA – November 2025 Update Information
You’ll also find the latest sector news and upcoming events by NATECLA in the UK and Ireland through the link below:
You can read the full Update here
If you have any queries, get in touch with us by emailing info@natecla.org.uk or calling 07443 601 298.
The Voluntary Sector ESOL Working Group would like to invite you to take part in our first Needs Analysis
Whether you are an organiser or a volunteer, the information you provide will help the group prioritise topics and methods of delivery for CPD in the coming year.
The survey can also be found by following this link to Padlet, where you can find more information about resources and upcoming events for the Voluntary ESOL Sector.
It will only take you a few moments to complete it.
Deadline for submission – 4 January 2026
Information provided by:
Sharon Baker BA(Hons), MEd, Dip ELIC, DipHE, CELTA
Lead Language Tutor, Trainer & Translator at Linguatrust Language Services
On behalf of the Voluntary Sector ESOL Working Group
