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Celebrating Progress and Impact at ELATT: Insights from the Equal Voices Project Progress Report

At ELATT, we’re committed to empowering individuals through education and community projects across London, focusing on bridging the gap between diverse communities. The Equal Voices Project Progress Report, covering achievements from March 2023 to March 2024, showcases our efforts to bridge community gaps across London, promoting inclusivity and engagement. This blog explores the significant impacts of the project on our students’ personal and professional lives.

Overview of the Equal Voices Progress Report

Over the past year, ELATT’s Equal Voices project has significantly advanced inclusivity and support within the community. The report highlights our efforts in enhancing employability, supporting wellbeing, and driving effective community organising. The project began with customised information, advice, and guidance sessions, conducting thorough needs analyses to identify and address each student’s unique goals and challenges. This personalised approach was crucial, as a lack of such tailored support was found to notably affect students’ success and goal achievement.

  • Our debt and welfare advisory service is instrumental in providing individuals with the essential resources needed to effectively navigate financial challenges. Through collaboration with our partner organisation, Island House, we have supported 37 students across 42 advisory sessions.
  • We provided data and digital support to ensure our students could engage in online activities by assisting them with digital access. Specifically, we supplied 68 learners with laptops and provided data support to 14 learners.

  • Our employability support equips participants with the necessary skills and confidence to thrive in the workplace. Through tailored workshops, resume-building sessions, and one-on-one coaching, students have successfully transitioned into meaningful employment, significantly enhancing their livelihoods and sense of self-worth.

  • Our wellbeing services catered to the needs of migrants, offering support for their overall wellbeing. In total, we assisted 200 students in participating in wellbeing sessions focusing on both psychical and mental wellbeing.

  • We have partnered with Hackney’s Integrated Communities Programme and various council and VCS organisations to enhance support services for migrants. Notably, we collaborated with Hackney Giving to host a ‘Health Festival.’ Our partnerships also extend to the Hackney ESOL Forum, Waltham Forest Single Point of Contact, West London Alliance, and Tower Hamlets Working Group. Additionally, as active members of Hackney Citizens, TELCO, West London Citizens, and Waltham Forest, we have worked with Citizens UK to develop ‘community action’ training for migrants.

  • Embedding community organising within our ESOL delivery empowers our learners to support themselves and their communities through active citizenship and provides meaningful contexts for language learning, skills development and community engagement.

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Our wrap-around support services have profoundly affected the lives of many, providing both practical skills and emotional support.

A testimony from one of our students, B*, encapsulates this impact beautifully:

"Hello Wellbeing team, I hope you are all well. I'm B*, a student of ELATT. I want to thank you very much for the Wellbeing Conference on Tuesday 10th, and also for all the meetings you held regarding mental and physical health. These have been wonderful for me, I have managed to understand that no matter what we go through in life, we should pay some attention to ourselves by eating healthy, going for a walk, breathing, etc. I have also learned to be positive, forgive and accept. We must focus on the future to achieve the goals we have for life. I want to tell you that you are the best, thank you for everything you do for us. Keep going up."

Enhancing Employability Skills in London’s Diverse Communities

Case Study: Employability Support – Fatiha (name changed)

Fatiha’s* journey highlights the importance of our employability support. Fatiha, a skilled refugee and former Head Teacher from Lebanon, joined ELATT’s Job Search Programme in January 2024. Despite having substantial experience in education, she hadn’t secured paid employment in the UK and was enhancing her language skills while caring for her family. Fatiha aimed to work in a school again, possibly as a teacher.

She completed various courses at ELATT. With aspirations to gain local experience, she worked closely with an advisor to improve her CV and navigate job applications.

Her efforts led to a job opportunity as an Assistant to the Meal Supervisor at a local primary school, fitting her family commitments and work preferences. This role marked a significant step towards her professional goals in the UK, showcasing her determination and the effective support from ELATT in transitioning her skills to the UK job market.

*Name has been changed for reasons of confidentiality.

 

Case Study: Community Organising – Isabella (name changed)

Isabella’s* journey through our community organising initiative highlights the transformative power of active engagement and leadership development.

Isabella joined ELATT in 2023 to enhance her English literacy and seek employability support. Previously directing a Human Rights NGO in Brazil, she struggled to utilise her skills meaningfully in the UK. In October, she participated in a Community Organising workshop with West London Citizens, which reignited her passion for advocacy, closely relating to her past NGO work.

Motivated by this experience, Isabella started volunteering for the Equal Voices project and represented ELATT at Citizen UK’s Living Wage campaign. She actively participated in various community and advocacy events and took a leading role in ELATT’s Voter Registration Champions initiative. This blend of community organising and her ongoing ESOL studies has significantly boosted Isabella’s confidence and integration into the UK community, enabling her to apply her extensive skills to support others and advocate for migrant justice.

*Name has been changed for reasons of confidentiality.

Conclusion

Through our ongoing projects, ELATT continues to play a crucial role in advancing education and community engagement across London, making a significant difference in the lives of many. The stories and data from the Equal Voices Progress Report underscore the transformative impact of our work.

The successes chronicled in the Equal Voices Progress Report would not be possible without the unwavering support of our partners and the broader community. Their contributions not only sustain but amplify our efforts.

Join us in making a difference in London’s communities. Learn more about how you can support our mission and contribute to our diverse educational and community projects.

Learn more about how you can support our mission here.