Projects for Adults

Young Women’s Social Inclusion Project

The Arbour Women’s Project works with women who have migrated to the UK in the past year. People come to the UK for many different reasons and from many different backgrounds, bringing with them a wide range of knowledge, experience and skills. This is our starting point as we work with learners in developing their language and, crucially, their confidence, as they settle in London.

We equip women with the knowledge and skills to tackle barriers to education and employment, increase their access to local services, gain greater knowledge of life in Britain and provide a space where women can make friends. We provide a range of high-quality services all designed specifically for newly-arrived women:

We Offer:

• ESOL classes: We run free entry-level ESOL classes at seven venues in Tower Hamlets. The courses are accredited, and learners have the opportunity to achieve an ESOL Skills for Life Certificate. Most sessions take place in the classroom, but sometimes we leave the classroom in order to use language in real-life situations.


• Computer classes: We run a beginners computer course. The course covers basic computer skills including word processing, email and the internet.


• Mentoring scheme: As our women's project seek to empower the women to have greater control over their own lives, all participants have the opportunity to have a mentor to support them. Integration needs to be a two-way process and we therefore seek to involve the local community in the process. Our mentoring scheme is a new initiative which involves mentors from the community working on a one-to-one basis with project participants to provide one-to-one personalised support to women during their first year and provide an opportunity for them to practice and improve their confidence in using spoken and written English in everyday situations.

Volunteering opportunities. Click here!

• Short courses: We offer a range of short courses. We have recently run personal safety training for women and first aid training.


• Information, advice & guidance sessions: We run free and confidential information, advice and guidance sessions about education and employability. The sessions offer information about finding work, becoming a volunteer and sourcing suitable training opportunities.


• Volunteering and work tasters: We work with participants to find and prepare them for a one-day work taster. We also arrange longer placements at partner organisations for those who are interested in volunteering in their community and gaining new skills.


• Social activities: We hold monthly coffee mornings for women to get together and chat over a cup of tea or coffee and try a new activity. We also hold social events to mark festivals celebrated in Tower Hamlets.

How to get involved:

If you wish to enrol in one of our courses, please call the Women’s Project on 0207 790 6578. New classes start in February and October. Please contact us as soon as possible before the start date so we can guarantee you a place.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor or classroom volunteer, please see our volunteering section for further information.

Volunteering opportunities. Click here!

Our Projects for Adults.