Supporting refugees who can’t read or write requires a different approach
If a client can’t read in any language, translated leaflets and standard processes don’t work. This practical workshop gives frontline staff realistic strategies to support non-literate refugees straight away.
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SOUND FAMILIAR?
Do you sometimes struggle to support certain refugee clients and wonder why?
You’ve spent time explaining next steps to a client.
Perhaps you’ve used an interpreter, used pictures, shown them Google Maps.
And yet… they keep coming back for more support.
They miss appointments you’ve made for them.
They don’t respond to messages.
They rely on you more than other clients on your caseload.
It’s time-consuming, and worrying.
What your non-literate clients are dealing with
When a client cannot read or write, they often:
- Can’t keep a to-do list or remember instructions
- Can’t respond to emails from the NHS, housing services, schools or utilities
- Can’t read translated letters or text messages
- Struggle to use Google Translate, Maps and other apps
As a result, they become highly dependent on their key worker and extremely vulnerable.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
With the right strategies, you can:
- Reduce a client’s dependence on you
- Help them take small steps towards independence
- Spot low literacy early and respond appropriately
- Use tools and apps that actually work for non-literate users
- Support clients safely while they learn English at their own pace
That’s what this workshop is designed to do.
A unique workshop, built from real-world experience
This workshop is co-delivered by Shelley Purchon and Joshua Aspden.
Joshua is a former Refugee Resettlement Team Leader. Many of the strategies in this workshop come directly from his experience supporting non-literate refugees in real caseloads.
The course was inspired by research from the United States, where non-literate migrants are known as Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE). This field of expertise is well established in the US but largely unknown in the UK.
The term SLIFE was coined by Andrea DeCapua, a leading researcher in the field, who has reviewed this workshop and given her approval.
This training is not available anywhere else in the UK.
Watch the video for an example of what we cover in the workshop!
How your support to clients will be transformed after the workshop
When working with refugees with limited literacy you will feel less stuck.
You won’t be supporting them with the same issues repeatedly.
You’ll be able to reduce clients’ dependency while keeping them safe.
You will have realistic tools you can use immediately.
How To Help Non-literate Refugees navigate life in the uk
Supporting non-literate refugees is challenging, but you don’t have to work it out alone.
If you want practical, respectful strategies that work in real life, get in touch.
This 2-hour workshop is available online or face-to-face for groups of up to 20 people.
If it’s just for you, we’ll put you on a waiting list. You’ll receive a notification when the next session is taking place.
Prices for groups range from £600 to £800 depending whether a consultation to develop bespoke training is required.
What you’ll learn
In this practical, experience-led workshop, you will learn how to:
Understand what life feels like without functional literacy
Communicate more effectively in appointments
Identify visual resources that don’t work and find better ones
Use 8 practical strategies to increase client self-sufficiency
Explore 5 smartphone apps that can support non-literate refugees
Receive our resource pack: “How to help non-literate refugees learn English”
What Others Say
5 Star Feedback
Who this workshop is for
This workshop is designed for frontline staff working directly with refugees, including:
- Resettlement teams
- Employability and support staff in charities and local authorities
- Housing and homelessness teams
- Case workers and key workers
This version is not for ESOL teachers.
We have a separate version for ESOL practitioners that focuses on classroom learning and teaching outcomes.
A WORKSHOP TO SOLVE REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
In 2018, Joshua was supporting an Arabic-speaking client who kept coming back for additional help, even when things had been explained with an interpreter multiple times. After months of trust building, the client admitted he could not read Arabic.
That moment changed everything.
Joshua began researching SLIFE and experimenting with alternative strategies. When Shelley heard about this work, it was a lightbulb moment. Looking back on 25 years teaching ESOL, she wondered how many people with low first-language literacy she had missed.
Together, they created this workshop to help frontline staff spot low literacy early and respond with confidence and care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions below
How long is the training?
All our workshops are 2 hours long.
Can you hold this training in-house?
Yes. We can deliver the workshop online or in-house. Depending on your location, in-person training may incur a small additional cost.
Who delivers the training?
This workshop is usually delivered by our founding director, Shelley Purchon.
Is this just for groups?
No, we also deliver training to individuals, who can book on to mixed-group sessions. The tips in our mixed-group sessions are relevant to staff in a wider range of roles. To find out more, request a mixed group session when you click on ‘Enquire now.’ In our reply we’ll let you know which workshops we have coming up, and we’ll add your name to the waitlist if nothing is scheduled already. Prices start at £60 per person.
Can you help us solve a different communication problem?
Yes. Here are some examples of communication difficulties which other clients have brought to us-
- how to explain grooming to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
- how to explain housing legislation to people at risk of homelessness
- how to explain data protection over the phone
- how to explain what volunteering consists of.
Is there any follow-up?
Yes. Bespoke workshops include a consultation before and after the workshop.
Can we book this for mixed teams with different roles?
Yes. Many organisations book this for mixed groups – the skills are useful for all front-facing staff. If that’s your situation we recommend booking a workshop specially designed for mixed groups, rather than a bespoke one.
Do you offer a discount for third sector organisations?
Yes. Please mention this when you book.
We use interpreters. Do we still need this workshop?
Interpreters are essential for certain conversations, especially if the topic is legal, medical or financial. But booking an interpreter isn’t always justified, and even with an interpreter, meanings can get missed. This workshop complements – not replaces – interpreter use. To learn about our training on ‘How to Work Effectively with Interpreters’, check our website.
We already have cultural competency training. How is this different?
This workshop focuses specifically on language, not culture. It teaches you practical communication techniques you can use immediately, alongside any broader cultural awareness training you already have.
Is the workshop accessible for staff with different learning styles?
Yes. The session is interactive, visual and practical, with plenty of examples, opportunities to try techniques and space to ask questions.
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