English lessons for Ukrainians in Mid Sussex get funding

Sarah Lawrance, 52, and Emma Tingley, 48, raised almost all of their £4,800 GoFundMe target after teaming up with the Sussex Tuition Center in Haywards Heath.

Emma, ​​of Langmore Lane in Lindfield, said: ‘We are upset because it means we can start classes straight away and we can get resources straight away.

They said the Sussex Tuition Center has already donated its space with many teachers willing to give one hour of free tuition each week.

But they said the refugees ideally needed intensive instruction, so they are funding an additional 15 hours a week for three groups – beginners, intermediates and children.

“We were going to offer something very small but it got much bigger than that,” Sarah said.

She said they now teach about 30 adults and 15 children with classes for children running at the same time as there is no childcare.

Classes started on Wednesday May 25.

Sarah and Emma said the education will help prepare Ukrainian children for school in England and prepare adults for work.

Emma, ​​who has a Ukrainian guest at her house, said: ‘They all got visas under the Homes for Ukraine scheme to be able to work in the UK and a lot of people who have come are smart professionals in jobs qualified.”

But she said not speaking English would limit their prospects and could cut them off from the community.

Sarah said she is one of the teachers.

“By education I am a modern linguist – Russian and French,” she said, adding that she helped found the teaching center after returning to the UK six years ago.

Sarah previously worked for the British Council in Sri Lanka and said she has worked in education all her life. Her master’s degree is in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Emma added that they had also approached Haywards Heath Baptist Church who offered space.