Stories spark confidence at St Catharine’s

St Catharine’s Church in Gloucester has started a book club to support and encourage those learning English who are part of the church community.

Project Lead Henrietta Cozens applied for funding to extend the current teaching provision already offered by church volunteers. The group includes people who moved to the UK as refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, African countries and more.

Henrietta said, “For some learners these lessons complement classes they access through Adult Education or Gloucester College, but for others – especially those on waiting lists – they may be the only lessons available. ”

A government grant of £840 helped cover the costs of setting up the club, training volunteer teachers in the use of graded readers and buying quality books for different levels, from very basic books to classics like Pride and Prejudice. Many of the books include stories about British culture, helping learners understand more about the context they are now living in.

So far, 23 people, including 5 from Afghanistan and 7 from Ukraine, are benefitting from the scheme and the volunteer teachers are delighted with their progress.

“Our target was for learners to learn six new words every two weeks, but my learners are learning about 50 new words every week,” said one teacher.

Learners choose a book at the right level, read it during the book club sessions and use the group notice boards to rate the book, write a review and record any new words that they have learned.

Henrietta said, “We very much see incredible enthusiasm from learners. Reading not only builds vocabulary and grammar but also gives cultural insight and confidence. It’s wonderful to see our friends connecting through stories while improving their English. For us this is about more than language – it’s about expressing God’s love in practical ways and helping people feel welcomed and valued.

“One elderly Dari-speaker was super excited to read a beginners-level book for the first time, called ‘Seeing the Doctor’. He was enthralled that he could understand the words and see the scene in his mind, of the person arriving in the GP waiting room then being called through to explain his symptoms. It seemed he was on the edge of his seat wondering what was going to happen next! The next week he brought his wife along for the first time, and grabbed the same book to read to her! Thankfully we’d ordered two of each title, so she could hold one too.”

Book Club will be running on Wednesdays from 9.30am to 10am and from 11.30am to 12 noon, each side of the existing English classes. For more information contact Henrietta →