06/05/2026
It is with great sadness and gratitude that we share the following news.
A Thank You from English for All
English for All began in response to a clear need. In the early 2010s, Lesley and Philip, after retiring from supporting students with English as an additional language, started volunteering with asylum seekers in Newcastle. They quickly saw how many barriers people faced when trying to learn English and build a life here.
What began as informal support grew into something more. By 2015–16, classes were running again, shaped by a simple belief: learning English isn’t just about language, it’s about connection, confidence, and community.
In 2019, English for All officially became a charity. With the support of a dedicated team, volunteers, and—most importantly—our students, we built a welcoming, participatory space led by people’s lived experiences.
Today, with heavy hearts, we share that English for All has had to cease all activities with immediate effect and will be closing.
While this is deeply disappointing, we want to focus on what we created together: a community rooted in kindness, resilience, and solidarity.
To our students: thank you. Your courage, humour, and determination made English for All what it was. It has been an honour to learn alongside you.
To our volunteers: thank you for your generosity, care, and belief in people. You created spaces where everyone felt valued.
To our partners and supporters: thank you for walking alongside us and helping make this work possible.
We believe everyone has the right to learn, to communicate, and to feel at home. That belief does not end here and it continues in all of you.
We would love to hear your memories, stories, and photos. Please share them with us. We also hope this is not a final goodbye, but a pause before we can come together again in the future.
English for All was never just about language. It was about belonging. And that continues.
With gratitude and hope,
The English for All Team
