ABC Council Community Support Hubs

A number of ‘Community Support Hubs’ offering confidential help, support and advice for residents across the Council area, as well as a warm welcome and cup of tea, will open up to the public in November.

Organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, these Community Support Hubs will give residents an opportunity to meet with key support organisations who will give advice and guidance around matters relating to housing, food, fuel, universal credit, advice provision and more.

The Hubs will also offer information on home safety, waste management, training and employability, health and wellbeing, as well as signposting to the correct support organisations to ensure people can access the right help for their circumstances.

The Community Support Hub information is now live on the Council website and can be previewed on the link below:

Drop-in Community Support Hubs – where everyone is welcome – Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Please download the following Community Support Hub flyers for information on venues and dates:

The QR code on the flyer will take you directly to our Council website.

The first Community Support Hub took place in Lurgan Town Hall on Tuesday 12th November 2024. 

ESOL English for Speakers of other Languages

Please see attached links and resources online for general ESOL home learning and some specific resources targeted at teenagers.

ESOL Websites and Apps for Teenagers

Study at Home.

In addition, please see below a few other Northern Ireland specific links and information updates you may find useful:

  1. Belfast Met – ESOL provision – Academic Year 22/23 – * due to open for bookings for assessment and enrolment sessions in July 2022 (see below):

https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/part-time/esol/assessment/

ESOL assessment slots with the Belfast Met College will only go live for online bookings via the link above on Thursday 21st July, at 1pm.

  1. In Northern Ireland, the BHSCT have developed on behalf of the region a set of leaflets explaining how to access HSC services through the NHS – see link below:

Access to HSC Booklet – 1 (pagetiger.com)

These HSC materials are translated into 15 different languages.

  1. Learning Unlimited are running brand new and forward looking CPD sessions for ESOL practitioners later this month and July 22. Designed by John Sutter (Learning Unlimited Director & Language/Literacy specialist) and focussing on aspects of ESOL teaching facing challenges and change. There are four interconnected subject areas: sociolinguistics, new literacies, multimodal communication and decolonisation – you can find a promo video and booking details via the link below:

    https://www.learningunlimited.co/training-and-cpd/online-cpd-for-esol-tutors/

  2. SOLACE – Free E-Learning course – Understanding Refugee and Asylum Seekers Mental Health

Would you like to be able to better support the emotional wellbeing of people seeking asylum in the UK, and influence others in your organisation to do the same? Our new online course is aimed at people in any role who may find themselves coming into contact with asylum seekers and would like to develop their understanding of the issues impacting their wellbeing so they can provide effective help.

E-Learning Flyer (solace-uk.org.uk)

NEW Polish Parent Support Telephone Service – Parentline NI

Parentline NI have an exciting new development!

From Wednesday 8 June 2022 through their helpline 0808 8020 400, they have telephone parent support available for parents/carers who speak Polish.  New Parent support team members will be able to directly support parents/carers over the phone in Polish on Wednesday evenings 6pm-8pm.

Parents/carers can directly access this service by phoning at the specified time or phoning at any time and leaving a voicemail or by self-referral by emailing parentline@ci-ni.org.uk .

Download Poster – English

Download Poster – Polish

 

 

NEW Arabic Parent Support Telephone Service – Parentline NI

Parentline NI have an exciting new development!

From Wednesday 8 June 2022 through their helpline 0808 8020 400, they have telephone parent support available for parents/carers who speak Arabic.  New Parent support team members will be able to directly support parents/carers over the phone in Arabic on Wednesday mornings 10am-12pm.

Parents/carers can directly access this service by phoning at the specified time or phoning at any time and leaving a voicemail or by self-referral by emailing parentline@ci-ni.org.uk .

Download Poster – English

Download Poster – Arabic

 

  

 

Ukrainian/English Language Related & Practical Resources

With the arrival of many Ukrainian families into Northern Ireland, ESOL NI have compiled this list of language related and other practical resources, which you might find useful if you come in contact with Ukrainian speaking new arrivals.

English language resources for ESOL teachers and volunteers, specifically about Northern Ireland (with local information and references) are also available.  If you are interested in some of the sample NI specific material, email LParizzi@belfastmet.ac.uk