Success Stories

See what people had to say…

 

1. ESOL TESTIMONIALS

 
 

Learner 1: 

I came to English classes to improve my English language. Because my English was not good. When I came to this class my language was good to speak with my teacher and my friends. When I asked work, the agency gave an English test and I got good result and started my job at salad work. I am so happy of this class. I hope to improve my English much better. 

Learner 2: 

I came to TREC to learn English. It helped me and now I am in an ESOL and academic class at Leicester University.

Learner 3:

My English classes are going very well. These classes are being helpful to communicate with people inside and outside of the classes. It’s helping me to speak English Without being shy or afraid and to be confident about my English. Also it helps me to spell the Words correctly. 

Volunteer 1: 

As a third-year student studying at the University of Derby with a specialist route into Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), I had to find a placement to fulfil the requirements of my degree. TREC was willing to help, and I was grateful. At first, it was challenging because I hadn’t taught adults before but after some excellent guidance from my TREC supervisor, I was able to get accustomed to the students and the atmosphere very quickly. I planned and taught full 2-hour lessons every day and was part of a remarkable team at TREC. Due to this, I was able to find a great job in Dubai teaching English, and TREC supported me well during my transition. It was a pleasure working there, and I hope I have a chance to come back and be a volunteer again. I recommend TREC to anyone wishing to pursue an English teaching profession or someone who wants to be of service. It truly was a great place to work. 

  

Volunteer 2: 

I started to volunteer at TREC – ESOL program from January 2019 as part of the Lawyers Without Borders pro-bono team from the University of Leicester. Teaching has always given me personal satisfaction in helping someone learn something new as well as, it is a great pleasure sharing knowledge with someone with the intention that they will benefit from it. Also, it is a way of giving back to the community that I am part of. TREC has allowed me to continue with my passion for teaching as I used to teach English in another country. The staff at TREC are pleasantly wonderful and ready to help at any time if anything is needed. Volunteering at TREC not only helps me to keep my teaching skills up to date but also allows me to contribute towards the success of individuals who come to learn English as a language. 

“ My English classes are going very well. These classes are being helpful to communicate with people inside and outside of the classes”

— Learner 3

 
 
 

2. Leicestershire Asian Business Association (LABA) 

 
 

Leicestershire Asian Business Association (LABA) has been involved with The Race Equality Centre for many years, engaging in collaborative trips across Europe, partnering on jointly funded programmes and sharing staff skills as appropriate. 

 The Race Equality Centre is Leicestershire’s conscience on issues of racial equality. For decades this organisation has focused on the support of marginalised communities, the recent migrants and, the under-represented. 

The reach of this organisation across the public sphere is no mean feat and it is tireless in championing racial justice in a city which professes a significant racial mix by adding a ‘reality check’ to the complacent rhetoric. 

 In recent years TREC has managed to forge links with the business community to ensure that social cohesion and equality are an integral part the City’s economic wellbeing. 

 This is an organisation which should be awarded for its role of working with policy makers and communities irrespective of nationality, to address race equality outcomes. 

 It was for these reasons LABA recently bestowed a lifetime achiever’s award on the Chief Executive of The Race Equality Centre.

 
 
 

3. A letter from John Ashworth MP

 
 

I am very grateful for the on-going relationship between my office and The Race Equality Centre. This working relationship is of benefit to my work as an MP, and I hope it is of equal benefit to your organisation. 

 Not long after my election in 2011 the assistance you gave me, along with other organisations in Leicester, in order to challenge the government's reforms to ESOL provision was essential. I was pleased that the government listened to my campaign and amended its proposed changes, but unfortunately it did not abandon all of its reforms which will have an adverse impact on Leicester and its different communities. 

 More recently, reports you have provided me on the Equality Act and the use of Stop and Search by the police nationally have been very useful. 

 The support of The Race Equality Centre (TREC), along with the Highfields Centre, has been crucial in establishing a food bank in the Highfields area of Leicester. This project is a result of the multi-agency meetings that I hold in Highfields that look at addressing the impact of the government's reforms to social security. 

In addition to the above examples of the support that TREC has provided to me and my office, the various services and initiatives of your organisation benefit the City as a whole. 

 For example, your work enables the City Council to manage demographic changes and the integration of new communities in the City, which is essential to community cohesion in Leicester. This work complements TREC's public education role which enables communities to access services that they would otherwise face insurmountable barriers to access. 

 The community development work undertaken by TREC has had many positive outcomes; not least the fact that organisations in Highfields have agreed action plans to mitigate the impact of the government's reform of social security on the different community groups. In addition, TREC has continued to provide ongoing support and advice to organisations seeking to shape, design and deliver services to the residents of Leicester. 

 I am aware that the above is a very small snapshot of all the different work undertaken by TREC that benefits the communities and citizens of Leicester, but it is clear that TREC is vital to many aspects of life in Leicester City. 

 As always, if there is ever anything I may be able to assist with please do not hesitate to contact me or my office. 

 Jon Ashworth Member of Parliament for Leicester South 

 

4. Leicestershire and County FA

 
 

Over the past year The Race Equality Centre have supported and helped the Leicestershire & Rutland County Football Association to further its equality objectives.

This support has always been professionally provided in such a way as to allow for effective discussion and, when necessary, the positive challenging of established approaches so that effective change and development can be achieved. 

In particular The Race Equality Centre has supported the investigation, analysis and decision making with regard to high profile discipline cases where race has been an aggravating factor. Whilst such cases are often emotive and highly charged the input from The Race Equality Centre staff has always been calm and considered and has therefore enabled the Association to move forward in its approach.

Additionally, The Race Equality Centre is supporting the Association to deliver organisational changes that will further embed inclusion in every aspect of its work.

Without the support of The Race Equality Centre it is unlikely that the Association would have been able to make the changes it has nor to plan confidently for its future equality initiatives. Therefore, whilst not only appreciating the support we have already received the Association would wish to see and support the continuation of that service.

 

Keith Murdoch
Chief Executive Officer

 

5. Service users, volunteers and visitors

 
 

INTEGRATION SERVICE

“Thank you for the support that you have given me”

“Thank you so much for helping us. We couldn’t have done it without you all! We wouldn’t be where we are today without people like you by our side. We can’t thank you enough for being there in our time of need. You have no idea how much your help means to us. For all the things you do, both big and small, want to thank you once again”.

“To you all. Thank you guys for all the help you’ve given me.”

IMMIGRATION

“I cannot express words to say to you thank you. All my family since I come to this country you have been supporting all the time. I will never forget your help and support. We will remember to pray for you. God will help you for ever. Thanks.”

“Thank you very much for the hard work you did for me.”

DISCRIMINATION

“Thank you for giving help and support during the difficult times I had with work.”

VOLUNTEERS

“Thank you all so much for having me around the office. I appreciated all the support and I’m only sorry that I’m unable to continue volunteering on a regular basis as I am now starting to get regular work. Let me know if there are activities I can assist in…”

“I’m back in Leicester for a visit … it happens to be thanksgiving week in the US which means I’ve been thinking about the things (and people) I’m thankful for. It’s also a time to recognise the racial injustices on which the US was founded, and which persist around the world today. For these reasons I’m feeling grateful to you all for letting me become a part of the TREC family while I was living here, and most of all, for the meaningful and essential work you do every day.”

HOSTING

“Thank you so much for opening your agency to the students and me from the University of Central Florida….the information and services you provide are amazing…”