Latest
Your generous support helps us to exceed our Aviva fundraising target
Thanks to your incredible generosity we successfully raised just under £17,000, surpassing our initial target by 420%. Read more
My experience volunteering with refugees in Northern France
The people we met are inspirational, the survivors, the most resilient and courageous, but why do we have a system that forces them to take such risks Read more
PM Statement on Illegal Immigration: A Response
Rishi Sunak made an announcement Tuesday, Dec 13th setting out new plans to “tackle illegal immigration.” We welcome any genuine attempt to reduce the backlog in asylum claims, wh... Read more
The Hairfall – Words from an Iranian Centre Member
The Hairfall For Zhina (Mahsa) Amini Words by Ebrahim Ghadirfar, Artwork by Shakhawan. Sometimes the gap between realities and dreams is so small and narrow such as a hair. I saw something tha... Read more
Halifax Stands in Solidarity with Iran
The current protests in Iran started with the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested and beaten by ‘morality police’ on 13 September for allegedly violating Iran&#... Read more
Fill the Skies with Hope and Stop the Flights
We are joining a new campaign to urge the new Prime Minister to change course on the government’s policy to banish refugees to Rwanda. #FillTheSkiesWithHope runs until 9 November 2022. *EDIT &... Read more
English for Life in the UK – The school system in the UK
How schools are organised in England. 3 people discuss their own experiences of teaching and of the school system. Read more
English for Life in the UK – Co-operatives in the UK
What is a co-operative? The history of co-ops in the U.K. Interviews with 2 co-operatives – Suma Wholefoods and Valley Organics. Including how they operate and the principles on which they ar... Read more
Volunteer Spotlight: Lucy Lee
As part of Volunteers Week 2022, we met up with some of our volunteers to hear about their experiences at St. Augustine's Centre. Lucy Lee volunteers in our Befriending scheme, building f... Read more
English for Life in the UK – Interview with an Artist: Kate Lycett
We interview Kate about her work as a visual artist, how she goes about creating a painting, her influences and why art is important. Read more
English for Life in the UK – Farming and Cheese-Making in a Yorkshire Town
We interview a dairy farmer and cheese maker about the history and process of milk and cheese making. We discuss the idea of organic farming and the use of the word ‘culture’ in cheese ... Read more
Update: Homes for Ukraine, Nationality & Borders Bill and Rwanda
It’s been a confusing few months. Whilst we’ve seen a heartwarmingly large number of people ready to open their homes to people fleeing Ukraine, we’ve also witnessed the draconian... Read more
English for Life in the UK – Access to Healthcare in England
A discussion with a doctor (general practitioner) and a community pharmacist about how individuals can access primary healthcare services in England Read more
English for Life in the UK: Football Interviews
We interview 2 teenage girls about playing football and an older man about playing and watching the game. In the language support section we talk about the modern everyday use of the word ‘li... Read more
Homes for Ukraine Scheme – Information
We welcome the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and we believe that anyone fleeing war and persecution should have a clear and supported route to claim asylum in the UK, regardless of the... Read more
English for Life in the UK – Housing in the UK
We talk to the housing manager for Calderdale, discuss owning or renting property, the problem of finding affordable housing, housing issues for refugees and the issue of homelessness. Read more
Ukraine: What Can You Do Now?
Just over 6 months on from the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, we find ourselves once again watching in horror as a humanitarian crisis continues to escalate. Once again, we are reminded of jus... Read more
English for Life in the UK – Owning and Managing a Family Bakery in the UK
We interview the owner of a family bakery called Lottie Shaw’s. We hear about making ‘Parkin’, a traditional northern gingerbread, and the challenges of running a sustainable busi... Read more
English for Life in the UK – The Role of a Member of Parliament
Interview with Holly Lynch, MP for Halifax Read more
English for Life in the UK – How Does Local Government Work in the UK?
We interview Councillor Jane Scullion who is the deputy leader of Calderdale Council about how the Council works, her role and why local government is important. We also highlight some interesting ... Read more
English for Life in the UK – Season 3 Preview
We preview the new season, explain the idea behind this season of the podcast, introduce 2 new members of the team and outline some of the topics we will cover. Read more
Show the Love for Refugees this Valentine’s Day
Over the next couple of months, we MUST urge MPs to oppose the Government’s plans on the Nationality and Borders Bill, which is set to be the largest roll back of refugee rights that this cou... Read more