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Bright Path Futures started in August 2021 in Leicester with an on-the-ground partnership built out of necessity between newly arrived Afghan refugees, the University of Leicester’s Sanctuary ESOL team and the British Red Cross.

The challenges we aimed to address initially were the same as those the project addresses now: the cultural integration needs of people isolated with their families in hotel rooms, without the confidence, language or literacy to engage with communities in the UK.

We have developed a range of innovative resources to help people to take care of their wellbeing, learn how to speak, read and write in English (especially for those who have never been to school before), get some exercise and most importantly build new friendships with others.

We have teaching videos on YouTube and an accompanying workbook for use by families and in group settings.

Download the workbook here

These resources are now being used in Afghan Bridging Hotel communities across the UK. Supported by the British Red Cross and the Home Office Afghan Hotel Liaison Officer team, Bright Path Futures works in partnership with local authorities and other support organisations, offering two-day first language cultural induction workshops, as well as training professional English-speaking Afghans in language and literacy teaching approaches and helping to set up classes in hotel settings.

With the help of funding from the NHS, we are now translating our resources into a range of other languages for different refugee communities, including for recent Ukrainian arrivals. Our principles will be the same: tap into the expertise within the community, unlocking the potential for leadership and peer support, modelling social-based and family friendly learning delivered in first language settings for beginners who have significant barriers to learning in a college environment (caring responsibilities, lack of confidence and ‘learner know-how’, lack of access to transport, lack of access to college places etc).

Our aim is to support people to progress on into mainstream ESOL classes or work, having had a positive first experience of learning and being part of a friendly peer group, ensuring cultural integration at every point of the journey.