Over 150 newly arrived asylum-seeking adults will be welcomed in an empowering space to develop their English language skills, thanks to a donation by the London Freemasons.

CARAS, a Tooting-based charity, works with over 600 asylum seekers and refugees across South London each year. Their work focuses on supporting those facing the most pervasive challenges - unaccompanied asylum-seeking children navigating the asylum system and adulthood alone, as well as newly arrived adults housed in Home Office hotels for extended periods while awaiting decisions on their asylum claims.

Over the past 16 years, CARAS has developed a pioneering early-action model designed to address the root causes of social inequality, marginalisation, and poverty prevalent within refugee communities. Through a combination of social and educational programmes and one-to-one casework support, CARAS provides firm foundations for new arrivals. The organisation also works to amplify the voices of refugees, driving sector-wide change through training, advocacy, and influencing delivered in partnership with our community members.

With the £9,928 grant from the London Freemasons Charity, CARAS is set to expand its Adult Learning Programme, which currently provides over 150 newly arrived asylum-seeking adults with a welcoming and empowering space to develop their English language skills. The grant will fund the creation of a specialised Adult Literacy programme and an Accredited ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programme. These new initiatives will help participants build essential literacy skills and gain recognised qualifications, paving the way for brighter futures.

Eleanor Brown, CARAS CEO, said:

"We’re thrilled to have received a grant from the London Freemasons Charity to support the expansion of our Adult ESOL Programme. Disparities in literacy are prevalent and often overlooked – last year, 53% of new learners at CARAS were emerging literacy learners in both their mother tongues and English. This creates significant barriers to accessing the labour market and achieving family-sustaining wages, exacerbating long-term socio-economic inequality. Thanks to the funding from the London Freemasons, CARAS can now provide dedicated literacy support alongside the opportunity to gain an English-Speaking Board accreditation, significantly improving future prospects for our community members."

Find out more about CARAS’s work and how you can support the organisation on their website: www.caras.org.uk

Paul King from the London Freemasons, said:

"We’re proud to support CARAS in their work to better integrate newly arrived asylum seekers. Whether they be unaccompanied children or other vulnerable persons, speaking our language will enable them to navigate their difficult journey better - whatever their outcomes.”