Free English classes helping women break isolation

A charity that runs free English classes in Slough is helping some women break free from isolation.

The community Hub Viva Slough has developed a course for people who just arrived in the UK or who want to improve their language skills.

Lead instructor Rachel Farmer said the course, which has seen growing demand, aimed to help people live independent lives and get employment.

Annalakshmi Sundaram, a pupil from the class who arrived in the UK two-and-a-half years ago, said it had given her "more confidence".

She said: "When I moved to the UK I [did not] go anywhere without my husband, but now I move any places without my husband."

Ms Farmer said most of her pupils were women and had experienced isolation.

"Their husbands are working and they stay at home," she said.

"The classes are a chance to connect with others and learn English in a environment that is supportive.

"There are jobs that you don't have to speak English but your life is more fulfilled if you do have those language skills because you can live so much more independently."

She said a lot of her pupils previously relied on their families to take them to the doctors or answer calls from their children's schools.

Seetha Kumaran has been living in the UK for 10 months and said the classes had helped her gain more independence.

She said: "[Before the English class] when I would go to [my kid's] school or want to fill some forms I would depend on my husband while coming to this class I learnt how to interact with others."

Another student, Niaheesha Chappadi, who came to the UK eight months ago, said: "When I went to any interviews I got scared - how to interact with people?

"When I came here I got the [guidance] on how to interact with them."

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