Quick guide to funding English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Contents
Hong Kong British National Overseas (BN(O)) visa holders
The Ministry of Housing, Communities, Local Government (MHCLG) has made some funding available for ESOL for BN(O) visa holders. Full details can be found on the MHCLG Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) Welcome Programme – information for local authorities website. You can also visit our Funded support for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders website to get more information.
Currently the additional funding available to councils, and the eligibility requirements for ESOL, is as follows:
- £850 per learner that the council can claim back on behalf of the learner
- No minimum class hours
- Document required: BNO Visa documentation or E Visa
How to claim: Councils make the claim through the MHCLG DELTA system in the first quarter that the English class is completed. Further information is available on the ‘Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) Welcome Programme’ page.
Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders are not ordinarily eligible for Adult Skills Fund (ASF) funding until they have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 years.
For further questions about BN(O) ESOL funding, please either visit the ‘Funded support for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders page’ or get in touch with the RSMP Hong Kong team. Email address is [email protected]
The Afghan Schemes: Afghan Relocation Programme (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)
- Eligible for Adult Skills Fund
- Additional Funding Available: £850 per learner that the Council can claim on behalf of the learner
- Documents required: The learner’s immigration permission e.g. E Visa or a document from the Home Office confirming status.
How to claim: Information on the funding claim process, including the documentation required, is available via the Afghan schemes: funding instructions 2023 to 2024 page on GOV.UK.
Further details are also available via our Resettlement schemes funding instructions page.
The United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)
Eligible for Adult Skills Fund
- Additional Funding Available: £850 per learner that the Council can claim on behalf of the learner.
- Document required: The learners’ immigration permission e.g. E Visa or a document from the Home Office confirming status.
How to claim: Information on the funding claim process, including the documentation required, is available via the UK resettlement programmes: funding instruction 2023 to 2024 page on GOV.UK.
Further details are also available via our Resettlement schemes funding instructions page.
Homes for Ukraine
- Eligible for Adult Skills Fund
- Additional funding available: None
- Document required: Permission letter from Home Office or entry stamp on passport or E Visa.
How to claim: Colleges and Adult Education will draw down funding from the Adult Skills Fund.
There is no additional funding for people arriving on the Homes for Ukraine visa, but government have provided some additional supporting information to councils. This can be found on the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and other skills support: Homes for Ukraine page on GOV.UK.
Further details are also available via our Information for local councils page.
People seeking asylum
- If people seeking asylum have lived in the UK for more than 6 months, they are eligible for the Adult Skills Fund
- Additional funding Available: None
- Document required: Application registration card (ARC) – further information on the GOV.UK website or a document from the Home Office confirming status.
How to claim: Colleges and Adult Education will draw down funding from the standard ASF route