As the year comes to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting on the journey Hope English School has taken over the past twelve months. It’s been a year of profound highs and sobering challenges, underscoring just how vital our work remains in supporting asylum seekers and refugees in South Yorkshire.
Celebrating Progress
This year, more students than ever have embraced the opportunities we offer:
Learning English, opening doors to greater independence.
Building friendships, breaking the isolation of displacement.
Advancing their education and finding meaningful work.
Contributing to society, enriching their new communities with resilience and hope.
We’ve also celebrated milestones as an organisation: securing funding for critical core costs, expanding our team, and introducing new courses and services to meet the growing demand.
Facing Challenges
Yet, alongside these achievements, we’ve confronted heartbreaking realities. Students in bridging accommodation have faced vile acts of far-right extremism—some of the worst we’ve witnessed in the UK in years. These attacks have forced us to cancel classes, implement robust safeguarding measures, and respond compassionately to the very real fears our students and teachers face daily.
In Sheffield, planned riots by extremist groups were met with a powerful wave of counter-protests and a strong police presence. The overwhelming support drowned out their hateful rhetoric, proving once again that Sheffield lives up to its title as a City of Sanctuary. In these moments, I am reminded that hope always triumphs over hate, and even in the darkest of times, light finds a way to shine through.
The Spirit of the Season
At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of a child who was a brown-skinned, Middle Eastern, undocumented immigrant. For many, he symbolises the light entering a world of darkness. Regardless of our beliefs, this season brings people together:
We light candles.
Gather around fires.
Seek warmth and hold on to hope—whether for the arrival of spring or the dream of a better world.
As we navigate the “national winter” of our time, with all its uncertainties, let us continue to do the same. Let us be the light, the warmth, and the hope that others need.
On behalf of everyone at Hope English School, thank you for your unwavering support this year. Together, we’ve made a difference in the lives of so many, and together, we’ll keep striving for a brighter future.
With gratitude and hope,
Anna Bollinger
CEO, Hope English School
