Marking Black History Month – Guest Blog from North East Solidarity and Teaching (N.E.S.T)

Guest blog from Jemima Elliott, Volunteer, North East Solidarity and Teaching (N.E.S.T)

This Black History Month we can’t merely share yet another Martin Luther King Jr. quote or mourn the loss of the Obamas in the White House as we may have done in previous years. If this year has proven anything, it’s that unless followed up by meaningful action, words and promises are useless. We cannot claim loudly in our social media bios that Black Lives Matter unless we are taking necessary measures to ensure that they really do. Across the UK and in the North East there are countless groups, organisations, and individuals doing their best to dismantle racism and to uplift the voices of Black people. One such organisation is North East Solidarity and Teaching.

N.E.S.T works to support and empower refugees and asylum seekers in the North East through a wide variety of activities, including English language classes, art sessions, sports, activities for children, and trips around the region! These activities not only aim to improve learners’ English capabilities, but also to support them socially by providing fun avenues to express themselves, meet new people and make friends, relax and to see the North East. It was also founded and is run by students.

On the weekend before Newcastle University closed its campus in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, N.E.S.T held its last in-person sessions for the year, and shifted all activities and services online in a move called Operation Charlie. Within a week, all of N.E.S.T’s sessions (apart from sports) were now being carried out via YouTube livestreams, and available for learners to watch wherever they were able to get an Internet connection. Through an increased programme of projects introduced after lockdown (including a Pen Pal service, Zoom juggling sessions for children, and new socials for volunteers) N.E.S.T has aimed to combat loneliness and reduce isolation, especially as our learners are more likely to have reduced access to public services and other forms of socialisation. Regular phone calls have provided vital social contact and acted as welfare check ins to ensure that learners are getting everything they need if isolating and are aware of any changes to lockdown restrictions, as well as being opportunities for volunteers to receive feedback on ways the sessions could be improved and be most beneficial to the learners.

At the end of the last academic year, 600 student volunteers were supporting 700 learners in Newcastle and the surrounding areas – our biggest year yet and we are still growing every day. In May, 100% of N.E.S.T’s learners said they were able to understand English better as a result of N.E.S.T’s support, that they felt more confident accessing public services after sessions, and – perhaps most importantly – that they felt happier after attending a N.E.S.T session. Now more than ever, N.E.S.T is not only about improving tangible skills but primarily about improving the wellbeing of all involved in its family.

While N.E.S.T has received local recognition in previous years, this year it came Runner Up for the National Societies and Volunteering Community Award and was shortlisted for Charity of the Year at the Third Sector Awards. As we see wider success both with our support for learners as well as in the third sector, we are looking forward at ways to innovate, grow and adapt to new challenges and new opportunities.

After all, North East Solidarity and Teaching is only a small part of the campaigns we are seeing across the world to end racism and create a more equal society. As the students who are its beating heart graduate and move on to other spheres in the North East, the UK and indeed globally, they bring the spirit of N.E.S.T with them: a determination to do more to support others make the world around them a kinder place.

North East Solidarity and Teaching (N.E.S.T) is a student-run volunteer project which offers free English lessons to the refugee community in the region. Through the delivery of these lessons, refugees improve their written and verbal communication skills enabling them to gain necessary language qualifications required for employment and the ability to live a fulfilling life in the UK. Boosting their confidence empowers them to integrate themselves into the local community, reducing the stigma and prejudice. Visit them on Facebook: @N.E.S.T.NUSU