Idea for research
English for Action are a charity who support migrants in London through participatory ESOL classes and community organising. They are looking for student researchers to explore how structural changes could enable equal access to ESOL for all migrants in the UK.
Context:
- ESOL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages and refers to classes for migrants, refugees and those seeking asylum, typically those who have made the UK their home.
-There are clear links between ESOL access, health, employment, and social inclusion.
- Systemic barriers continue to exclude many migrants from learning English: inconsistent funding, restrictive eligibility criteria, and poor coordination.
- Provision varies drastically by region, creating a postcode lottery, and different public bodies (e.g. NHS, JobCentre, local authorities) have unclear or uneven responsibilities.
This research could explore:
- Who holds power over ESOL decisions (e.g. funding, eligibility, curriculum)
- Which arguments (economic, health, social cohesion) are most persuasive to key decision-makers
- What structural and policy solutions would remove barriers to ESOL access, including financial costing and political feasibility
- How the NHS, employment services, and local governments can collaborate more effectively
- What organising strategies have worked to advance ESOL access and how they can be scaled
The goal is to build a strategic roadmap toward universal, free, quality ESOL provision that meets the real needs of migrant communities.
Data collection could include:
- Speaking to ESOL practitioners / teachers
- Policy analysis
- Movement mapping
- Discourse analysis
- Longitudinal study
Impact of idea
This research will improve the organisation’s policy advocacy by providing strong evidence of the barriers to ESOL and contributing to strategic advocacy decisions. There is also scope for the student(s) to directly contribute towards our campaigns by volunteering with English for Action throughout their research.
