On 17th June, we were proud to attend the Oxford Sanctuary Fair at Oxford Town Hall, organised by the charity, Asylum Welcome. Held annually as part of Refugee Week, the theme for 2025 was “Community as a Superpower”, spotlighting the power of local togetherness in supporting refugees and asylum seekers.

The aim of the event was to promote awareness of issues faced by refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, and was also an opportunity to connect sanctuary seekers with crucial local services—housing, education, healthcare, employment. The day featured exhibitions, live music, and market stalls showcasing local initiatives, as well as interactive workshops for attendees to participate in.

The Oxfordshire Adult Learning team were there to share information about the ESOL courses we offer, that are designed to help learners build confidence in English for everyday life, work, and study.

Patrick McLaughlin, our Programme Lead for ESOL, shared:

“It was an uplifting experience to know how many organisations were supportive of refugees and asylum seekers in Oxford. However, it was also sobering to hear some of the witness accounts of continuing oppression, war, abuse, trauma and homelessness. If it weren't for some of these organisations, many more people would be in even greater difficulty.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to talk to us — we loved meeting so many potential learners and hearing your stories.

Want to improve your English or know someone who might benefit?

An English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class is for any adult UK resident who doesn't have English as their main language. We deliver from venues in Oxford, Abingdon and Witney.

Find out more and apply here