We work with language schools, universities, online platforms, and exam providers to help refugees achieve the English qualifications they need for meaningful employment.
For refugees rebuilding their lives in the UK, English is more than a skill, it’s a gateway to meaningful employment, education, and confidence in daily life. Whether someone is preparing for a job interview, applying to university, or working towards professional re-accreditation in a regulated profession, the right language support at the right time can be transformative.
Through our language tuition programme, we support refugees with a minimum proficiency of B1 (ESOL Entry 3) who need to improve their English for professional communication or obtain qualifications such as IELTS or OET.
We don’t deliver tuition in-house. We work with trusted language partners to match individuals with the right courses, locations, and exam pathways – then provide caseworker support throughout their journey.
We have had so many positive results from the students coming to study with us over the years. They are always inspirational and driven, bringing so much to our student body and to the school in general. We are humbled by their stories, their efforts and their progress as we see them making friends, achieving academic goals and rebuilding study journeys or careers.
Fiona Dunlop, Principal at Wimbledon School of English
We partner with a range of education providers. If you offer high-quality English provision aligned to employment, education, or professional re-accreditation, we would like to hear from you!
General and professional English, and exam pre
Pre-sessional English, pathway courses, and accredited programmes
Flexible, remote English tuition for refugees across the UK
IELTS, OET, and other recognised qualifications
Our partnership model is designed to give clients the best possible chance of success. It offers clear referral pathways, ongoing caseworker support, and a focus on real-world outcomes.
4-step process:
Tuition is free for clients on our programme. We are looking for partners who can work with us to deliver high-quality provision within our referral and funding model.
We want partnerships that lead to lasting outcomes for refugees – not just language acquisition in isolation, but English that opens doors to employment, education, and professional registration.
Our language partners must be either a English UK member or accredited by the British Council.
Checklist:
If you’re a language school, university, online provider, or exam centre and would like to explore partnership with Breaking Barriers, we’d love to hear from you.
We aim to be a clear, reliable, and outcome-focused partner, so you can focus on what you do best; delivering excellent English provision.
You can expect:
English is often the first step on a refugee’s journey to meaningful employment or education in the UK. Through our Language Programme, we help our clients improve their English, prepare for recognised qualifications, and move closer to the careers and studies they are qualified for.
clients accessed education in 2024-25
education/training outcomes
partner institutions UK-wide
pursuing healthcare
JuhinaIt has given me confidence that I will be able to work in a hospital soon, and it has broken a barrier. Before I thought ‘how will I go to the hospital? Will people trust me when I am speaking in this way?’ But now I feel people can trust me, they can take my advice, even if I am not the best at English.
Refugees on our programme have a minimum of B1 (ESOL Entry 3). We signpost learners below that level to ESOL provision elsewhere.
No. Tuition and up to two exam attempts are covered through our programme for eligible refugees.
Partnership placements are funded through Breaking Barriers’ Language Programme. We cover tuition and exam fees for eligible refugees and work with partners on agreed rates, scholarship places, or bursary arrangements. Details are agreed at the outset of any partnership.
It depends on the pathway. Many refugees preparing for higher education need IELTS. Those re-accrediting in regulated professions – such as healthcare – often need OET. Requirements vary by course, employer, and professional body.
No. We support refugees across multiple UK locations, including London, Glasgow, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, and the West Midlands. Online provision is particularly valuable for reaching refugees nationwide.
Each refugee has a dedicated caseworker who supports them throughout their engagement – from initial assessment and course matching to exam preparation and connection to our employment or re-accreditation pathways where relevant.
