Spring has been a busy and uplifting term at Reading Community Learning Centre (RCLC). Every week our classrooms are filled with women learning English, building confidence and supporting one another as they take steps towards feeling more connected to life in Reading.
Alongside our regular classes, we have welcomed new partnerships, community organisations and volunteers who are helping us bring even more opportunities and support to the women who attend the centre.
First a message from our CEO:
As we reflect on International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, we are reminded why the work we do at Reading Community Learning Centre matters so deeply. Across the world from Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine to rising tensions between Iran, Israel and the USA – conflict and crisis continue to force women to flee their homes, often carrying the weight of trauma, loss and uncertainty. At RCLC we support women from more than 40 countries, including refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum, helping them rebuild confidence, skills and community. As global crises deepen, more women arrive in the UK in need of safety, learning and belonging. Yet many myths about refugees persist:
- refugees actually make up less than 1% of the UK population
- most displaced people remain in countries neighbouring conflict zones
- asylum seekers receive just £7.03 a day for essentials and are not allowed to work while waiting for a decision
- They cannot access council housing while their claim is pending
- Their accommodation is funded by the Home Office, not local councils
Behind every statistic is a woman rebuilding her life. We celebrate their resilience and ask for continued community support so we can keep providing the learning, connection and opportunity that help women heal, rebuild and thrive.
Aisha Malik
CEO, Reading Community Learning Centre
Supporting wellbeing and connection
This term we hosted two Chai and Chat sessions with our partners at Project Salama, creating a welcoming space for women to connect, talk and learn about support services in Reading. In January, 24 women joined us for tea, conversation and wellbeing journaling. In March, 15 women attended a second session where they created vision boards and heard from several local organisations including Project Salama, Utulivi, BWA and Hope After Harm.
For many women, simply having a safe and friendly place to talk can make a huge difference. These sessions help reduce isolation while connecting women with organisations that can support them when they need it most.
Improving access to health services
Health and wellbeing are an important part of the support offered at RCLC. In February we hosted a health check day in partnership with NHS MEET PEET Community Nurses and Reading Voluntary Action (RVA). Seven women received health checks at the centre, helping them access services in a comfortable and familiar environment.
We also welcomed volunteer Shaheen Kausar, who spoke with learners in ESOL classes about breast cancer screening and the importance of attending appointments.
To further support learners, we have introduced Learner Health ID Cards. These cards include key personal details and translation needs, helping women communicate more easily with services such as GP surgeries, hospitals, pharmacies, schools and charities.
For women who may find systems confusing or intimidating, this small step can make accessing essential support much easier.
Building confidence through volunteering
Many learners want to give back to their community once they feel more confident with their English. And this term we welcomed Steve Hendry from Reading Voluntary Action, who spoke to our beginner English conversation class about volunteering opportunities across Reading and how learners can join the RVA volunteer register.
Sessions like this help women see a pathway from learning English to becoming active members of their local community.
Learner voice in action
In February we held our Learner Voice Forum, bringing together 12 learners with Steve Masters from Citizens UK to discuss issues affecting everyday life in Reading. Women shared their concerns about rising travel costs, the need for better street lighting, accidents involving electric scooters and the importance of increasing access to free childcare places. These conversations help ensure that the voices and experiences of migrant and refugee women are included in discussions about the future of our town.
Celebrating learning
At the end of term we will celebrate learners’ progress at our End of Term Celebration on 25 March, where women receive certificates recognising their dedication and achievements in class. Learners also share food together and celebrate the friendships and confidence they have built along the way. Moments like these remind us that learning English is about far more than language. It is about confidence, independence and belonging.
Supporting women and families through new funding
The work of Reading Community Learning Centre would not be possible without the generosity of our supporters, partners and funders.
£20,000 National Lottery Community Fund grant – We are delighted to share that RCLC has been awarded £20,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to support our project:
Cradle to Classroom – Supporting the Full Circle of Education
RCLC is a women-only learning centre, providing a safe and supportive space for marginalised ethnic minority women, many of whom face significant barriers to education due to poverty, language barriers, trauma, caring responsibilities and social isolation. As highlighted in our Annual Report, access to on-site crèche provision is one of the most critical enablers of women’s participation in learning. This funding directly supports that need.
The grant will:
- fund crèche worker salaries for three academic terms, sustaining a service described by learners as a lifeline
- cover paediatric first aid training, strengthening safeguarding, quality and confidence within our childcare provision
In 2024–25 alone, 83 children accessed the RCLC crèche, enabling their mothers to participate in education, build confidence and reduce isolation. Our CEO Aisha shared:
“For many of the women we support, childcare is the difference between being isolated at home and being able to learn, connect, and rebuild confidence. Our crèche is often described as a lifeline. This funding enables us to continue providing a safe, trusted space where women can focus on learning while knowing their children are cared for. We are incredibly thankful to National Lottery players for supporting women and families in our community.”
We are deeply grateful to National Lottery players for helping ensure women who are often excluded from mainstream provision can access education, support and a community where they feel safe, seen and valued.
Additional support from our partners
Over the winter, our learners and their families experienced wonderful moments of kindness through the Giving Tree campaign hosted by Connect Reading. Thanks to generous donations from The Curious Network UK and Novotel Reading Centre, 44 gifts were shared with women and their children.
We are also grateful to have received:
- £500 from Tesco Stronger Starts for our project Her Words, Her World, supporting English conversation classes with crèche provision.
- £3,000 from Greenham Trust’s Peter Baker Grant programme for Stitching New Beginnings, our sewing programme that helps women develop practical skills, confidence and opportunities for the future.
Together, this support helps ensure women facing isolation and barriers have a safe place to learn, connect and thrive.
Help us keep supporting women in Reading
While we are incredibly grateful for the grants and support we receive, the reality is that every pound makes a difference right now. The demand for our services continues to grow as more women arrive in Reading seeking safety, connection and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Donations from our community help us continue providing English classes, childcare, wellbeing support and a welcoming space where women can learn and thrive.
If you would like to support the work of Reading Community Learning Centre, you can donate through our JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/rclc
Your support helps ensure that women who may otherwise face isolation and barriers to opportunity can access learning, confidence and community.
We are proud to have contributed to the English Language Education Policy Brief: English language education needs to be more accessible for migrants (March 2026) by the University of Reading, which highlights the urgent need to make ESOL more accessible for migrant communities. At Reading Community Learning Centre, we see every day how barriers such as childcare, inflexible timetables, transport costs and fragmented information prevent many learners, particularly parents and carers, from accessing classes. The report reinforces what our community already knows: accessible ESOL is essential for employment, wellbeing and social integration. We will continue to champion flexible, community-based learning, stronger support services and better coordination, working with partners to ensure no learner is left behind.
Looking ahead
As we move into the summer term, we are excited to continue building partnerships, expanding opportunities for learners and creating more moments of connection across the community.
Every woman who walks through the doors of RCLC brings resilience, strength and hope for the future. We are proud to support them on that journey.
Thank you for your continued support
RCLC
SUMMER TERM FLYER
