Since May 2022, the Ukrainian Institute London has offered free English classes to over 1,000 displaced Ukrainians.
Almost all of our students are women, very often with children, and the displaced men are predominately over 65, together representing the most vulnerable parts of the Ukrainian displaced population.
All our students receive two classes per week. We run classes in Paddington in partnership with British Land, and in West London in partnership with West London Welcome.
It has been crucial for us to form a mutually supportive community at our school. Ten of our English teachers and our English School Manager are themselves displaced from Ukraine due to Russia’s full-scale invasion, and we are proud to have them on our team.
The U.K. government also offers free English classes at Adult education colleges (ESOL).
Find free ESOL classes near you
If you don’t already know your local council, you can visit the government’s “find your local council” website here. Type in your area code and the website will tell you who your council is.
Once you have this information, go to “google” and search for the name of your local council + free ESOL courses.
For example: “Lambeth free ESOL courses”.
Online Resources to learn English
British Council Learn English provides a wide range of free learning material from videos and podcasts to exercises focused on specific skills, grammar and vocabulary.
Wannalisn is a free program that will help you train your listening and pronunciation skills in English with short video clips from films, TV series and songs. The majority of these resources are free.
Other programmes/apps that we recommend: Duolingo, Drops, Anki App, LyricsTraining.
Learn more about our school
Our schools
Photo gallery
Our team
The staff and volunteers of the Ukrainian Institute London are responsible for the administration of our English classes, with experienced teachers providing the lessons.
Our courses are tailored to the needs of displaced Ukrainians who are new to London and the UK. For example, language skills for navigating public transport, filling in forms, seeing the doctor, applying for jobs etc.
Community is at the heart of our English school. We host tea and coffee for our students after every class, and organise other extra curricular activities such as talks, workshops and a party at the end of every term.
Speaking Club
We run a weekly speaking club where students can practice their English with native speakers.
Sponsors
Our free English classes in Paddington and at West London Welcome are made possible thanks to generous support from our sponsors: British Land, West London Welcome, Grove End Housing, Say Property, LandAid, The Daisy Trust, H&F Giving, Native Accommodation, The Hurlingham Club, RCH Educated Body and the supporters of the Ukrainian Institute London’s crowdfunder.
Special thanks to Debra Yudolph and Rob Stickland, who were instrumental in supporting the launch of our English school, and in helping us to keep up our classes.
Student Perspectives
“I wouldn’t change anything—my teacher is amazing and a wonderful, kind person. Everything is organised at a top level. Such courses are absolutely essential for us and I am hugely grateful that it is free.”
“I haven’t missed a single lesson as learning English is so important for me now. Everything was brilliant: my teacher, the classrooms, the chance to have tea after classes. I am really happy with my progress and my dream is to continue classes!”
“Everything is great: brilliant teacher, beautiful place for our lessons, and very good organisers. I am grateful that we were given textbooks to take home, it’s been very useful to be able to keep up my studies between classes.”
