We are thrilled to be one of the first third sector organisations and one of the first training providers in London to be awarded the Mayor of London's Good Work Standard, which we achieved at Excellence level!

The Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard was officially launched in summer 2019 – part of the Mayor's commitment to making London the best city in the world to work. As a London Live Wage employer for almost ten years, we believe this is an important recognition of our commitment to our people. It also reflects the many ways in which we are striving for the best possible working conditions for our employees.

The Mayor’s Good Work Standard sets the benchmark for the best employment standards and helps employers contribute to a fairer and more inclusive London economy. This means the economy works for all Londoners and more Londoners can access good jobs, in workplaces that support their health and wellbeing.

To make this happen, the Mayor is working with businesses like ours to celebrate excellent work practices and assist businesses in adopting best practice approaches by bringing together a range of support and resources.

By signing up to the Good Work Standard, employers signal that they are committed to healthy, fair and inclusive workplaces. We know this is an important step in attracting and retaining a diverse, talented and successful workforce and we hope to assist other businesses in realising these benefits.

To read more about the Good Work Standard, please visit What is the Mayor's Good Work Standard?.

Mayor of London - Adult Learning

We’re delighted to have been awarded a Mayor’s Skills Academies Quality Mark for provision within the digital sector.

The Quality Mark supports the Mayor’s commitment to help Londoners into good work in sectors key to London’s recovery and long-term economic growth, and learners can use the Quality Mark to seek out excellent, industry-relevant skills provision across the city.

This is key to the Mayor’s mission to build a better London for everyone, and we are pleased to be working with City Hall on this important work. For more information on our Quality Mark, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Congratulations to all the Skills Academies Quality Mark accredited providers announced this week! You can find the full list here: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-wedo/jobs-and-skills/mayors-academies-programme/mayors-skillsacademies-quality-mark

About the Mayor's Skills Quality Mark
Mayor’s Skills Quality Mark Launched in March 2022, the Quality Mark will be an annual accreditation awarded to London training providers who offer high quality training in sectors covered by the Mayor’s Skills Academies and the construction sector.

Londoners and employers will be able to use the Quality Mark to identify excellent, industry-relevant training in the capital.

The Quality Mark aims to assess and recognise training providers delivering high-quality provision in six sectors: Digital, Creative, Health and Social Care, Hospitality, Construction and Green.

The Quality Mark Statement of Requirements outlines a range of assessment criteria including a combination of sector specific questions, and wider cross cutting issues like diversity and inclusion, sustainability, Good Work and the engagement of under-represented groups.

Volunteer Testimonials

This Volunteers' Week we'd like to thank our volunteers and share their stories. We have had over 55 volunteers this year and their support for our students is so important to our excellent student satisfaction and success rates. Volunteers have been vital during our live, tutor-led online lessons during the pandemic. Volunteer TA's provide essential support to those in need of additional tech support whilst the teacher continues the live lesson, ensuring no one is left behind whilst we've been locked down.

Read on to hear what ELATT volunteers have to say about their experience...

I started volunteering with ELATT after I found myself jobless during the pandemic in 2020. I’ve loved having the opportunity to help others, and meet new people whilst developing my skills and knowledge, and supporting a fantastic charity! The team are so flexible and accommodating, and the training is great plus there are a range of ways you can get involved; I initially planned to support the admin team as this is where my work experience lies, but instead decided I’d try my hand at being a teaching assistant in the virtual ESOL classes and loved every minute! My time volunteering with ELATT has opened so many doors and given me the confidence to pursue a new career in Speech and Language Therapy. I would encourage anyone considering volunteering with ELATT to go for it - it has been an absolute game changer for me!
- Robyn, volunteer ESOL TA in 2020

I had the opportunity to do volunteer work in two ways for Elatt. I assisted my teacher in the creation of some digital materials (forms) and also as an assistant in a group of beginners. It was an experience that allowed me to learn a lot. It was amazing to meet people from different parts of the world, with so many different stories and a lot of willpower to be there. It was definitely inspiring! I recommend it to everyone who has a little time. It will be an incredible experience for you and will help others! Thank you Elatt for the opportunity!
- Juliana, volunteer Teaching Assistant

I have been a volunteer teaching assistant since July 2020 and I am half way through my third term of teaching alongside the main ESOL teacher. The best thing about volunteering for me is simply the time you get to spend having conversations with people that I would never get the opportunity to interact with otherwise. I have met numerous different people all from different backgrounds and cultures and I have learned so much about each individual one. I have gained so much confidence in not only speaking to new people but in my own teaching ability. When I started I found it difficult to know what to say to students and now I am happy to take control of a lesson if I need to and guide the students in the right direction effectively. This is what I found challenging in the beginning. It is hard to know what questions to ask students and how to relate to them when they speak little English but I have learned that a friendly face and smile can go a long way. I would definitely recommend volunteering and teaching to others whether it be to develop your own career or to fill some spare time as you will get as much out of it as the students do from your help.
- Rose, volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistant

My experience as a student and then as a volunteer at ELATT has been the most precious time in my education. ELATT gave me the opportunity to volunteer as a teaching assistant. I have met many teachers here who made a good impact in my life, the staff are kind and always happy to help in any way they can. After my time at ELATT, I had the opportunity to get a job and improve myself in many areas.
- Margarita, volunteer Teaching Assistant

Conversation Clubs are an opportunity for ELATT’s language learners to practise their English speaking skills and develop confidence in a fun, informal environment.

These clubs also give ELATT students an opportunity to become organisers themselves – contributing to the community while gaining skills and experience. Our teaching assistant students in particular find this experience a useful addition to their CVs.

This is an area ELATT has long been involved in. Our very own Nafisah recently completed her PhD on Social Interactions in English and is now Dr Graham-Brown. As part of her research, she led ELATT’s involvement in an Erasmus project on Volunteers in Language Education, working together with community organisations from Slovenia, Denmark and the Netherlands www.languagevolunteers.com

Earlier this year, our Volunteer Manager, Yvonne Ackuaku, and three of our Conversation Club volunteers – Pascale, Gertrude and Izabel – were filmed about their conversation club experience as part of a Learning & Work Institute / Learning Unlimited project funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

You can see the four videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmZbrFRJFfyPgDaa5DKwA5wayFVMdUsGd

The project also produced 15 units on a range of topics. These flexible and adaptable resources are designed to meet the needs of the huge range of conversation clubs across the UK. It was an exciting writing project which our Quality lead, Helen Rankin, was thrilled to be involved in as an LU Associate.

You can see the 15 units and the accompanying guides here:
https://learningandwork.org.uk/resources/research-and-reports/volunteers-english-language-learners-and-conversation-clubs/

Our current challenge is to build on the initial success in adapting conversation clubs to run online during the Covid-19 crisis. Despite the unfamiliar environment of Zoom, participants – including new joiners – have been able to bond and to discuss personal issues, including Black Lives Matter, in a supportive and constructive way.

If you would like to become an ESOL volunteer, please contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you would like to join a conversation club, complete an ESOL enrolment form online:
https://www.elatt.org.uk/courses/english-skills

Over 200 attendees join charity event with world class speakers; Dr Thomas Mensah, Judge Chantel Fortuin and Marva Rollins to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day and reflect on Black Lives Matter movement

ELATT, an award-winning training provider and charity offering Digital Skills, ESOL and other courses across London, welcomed speakers from around the globe on Friday 17th July, to join their online student celebration. The event focused on the themes of Black Lives Matter, International Justice Day (17th July) and Nelson Mandela Day (18th July).

Dr Thomas Mensah, one of the key inventors of the fibre optic technology that allows us to use the internet, joined the event from Ghana, and had attendees chanting the title of his book and mantra, “The Right Stuff Comes in Black Too! I can do anything I put my mind to!”. His story of growing up in Kumasi, Ghana, studying with scholarships in France and the USA, and being inducted into the National Academy of Inventors in 2015 left the audience uplifted. Attendees left comments in the chat including “Thank you Dr Mensah - what an inspirational journey you've had in which we are all now benefiting” and “beautiful, what an amazing morning, from pain to purpose here I come”.

A focus on education was offered by Marva Rollins OBE, who shared her journey from being a single mother of three, to becoming the first black headteacher in the London Borough of Newham. Key messages from her talk included the importance of being kind, not only to others but to ourselves with our internal voice. She also gave practical tips to ELATT’s aspiring teaching assistants. Audience feedback included “It was very inspiring to hear Marva talk about the Windrush generation and how difficult it was” and “Yours is a wonderful and inspiring story, thank you Marva, for telling it with such warmth, honesty and clarity.”

Judge Chantel Fortuin, joining the event live from South Africa, offered some real gems of knowledge, highlighting that she didn’t realise justice could be used for means other than oppression for a long time. This realisation that she could make a difference and bring justice to the working class in her community gave her purpose to work hard in her studies, leading to her become an attorney whilst also working full time and raising a family. Comments from students included, “inspirational story and speech. Thank you Judge Fortuin” and “Thank you Chantel, for such a powerful, inspiring and massively positive speech.” Her story inspired us all.

An installation of student, staff and volunteer art and media work around the theme of equality and Black Lives Matter was also presented. ELATT are donating to Irie Minds in respect of this work. You can find the installation here www.elatt.org.uk/blacklivesmatter

ELATT are planning a series of events to celebrate black leaders and achievements – if you would like to attend or get involved, please click here or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are always happy to partner with employers to offer work placements, volunteering or mentoring – if you’d like to support our learners, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you’re interested in furthering your education and joining one of ELATT’s free training courses, check out ELATT.org.uk 

ABOUT ELATT - Over 30 years of bringing diversity into the workplace in London.

We’re an award-winning education charity, and since we started in 1984, we’ve supported hundreds of students to better their lives through employment.

Our vision is a London where everyone can flourish in their lives, no matter their age, background or circumstances. We welcome students who want to develop their skills, gain confidence and learn at any stage of their lives. Our courses include Web Design and Development, Computer Engineering, Digital Media Production, Business IT and English and maths.

Please also contact Catriona (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you would like to cover the event and find out more information.

IMAGES - More images can be provided if you wish to run the story.

Presentations on the day (Credit: Catriona Salisbury)

Inventor and scientist Dr Thomas Mensah (Credit: Dr Thomas Mensah)

Marva Rollins OBE (Credit: Marva Rollins OBE)

Judge Chantel Fortuin (Credit: Chantel Fortuin)

Councillor Anthony Okereke, the Labour & Co-op Councillor for Woolwich Common Cabinet Member for Housing (Credit: Royal Borough of Greenwich)

A young viewer joining with with Dr Thomas Mensah (Credit: Catriona Salisbury)

On 19th June ELATT, Action West London, Train 2 Work and GOSAD hosted the annual Working West London Employer Event, online for the first time. The two-hour event included a workshop and panel discussion about Refugee Employment.

Over 30 attendees joined the webinar, which kicked off with an introduction from Mohammed, a participant from Sudan who previously worked in Law before coming to the UK. ELATT helped with his UCAS application and he’s just finished his second year at University to become a lawyer in the UK.

Musharaf and Catalina from Action West London delivered an inspiring presentation on the topic of ‘The Job Market Post Lockdown’, packed with helpful advice about which sectors are still hiring throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Tips included those interested in customer service could look for roles as Social Distancing Ambassadors, and that sectors such as logistics, couriers and care are all busy hiring to meet increased demand. Musharaf highlighted that to be successful in the current job market, you need to stand out, and gave practical advice including: online training via providers such as ELATT and Action West London; upskilling and enhancing knowledge; tailoring your CV and really dedicating time to the job search. With the advent of homeworking, there could be ideal opportunities for those in need of flexible roles, such as parents and those with caring responsibilities.

A panel discussion followed, led by Dr Nafisah Graham-Brown and joined by Dalila Arafa, a refugee participant from one of our Working West London project partners, Action West London, who worked in logistics and civil transportation in her home country; Joanne Thomas, EMEA Recruiting Lead from Oliver Wyman who is working on a placement programme with Transitions; Fahira Mulamehic, Employment Programmes Manager, Refugee Council; and Debbie Viner, Interim Executive Director of People and Learning, British Red Cross. We were also delighted to be joined by Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing and Southall.

@VirendraSharma
I spoke at an important event addressing refugee employment with @BritishRedCross, @refugeecouncil , @elattlondon and @OliverWyman. Thank you for your valuable insight on the barriers faced by refugees today. I look forward to working with you all in the future. #RefugeeWeek

The panel discussed their challenges and successes of supporting refugees into work and employing refugee individuals including the misconceptions around the right to work in the UK. All the employers agreed their organisations had benefitted from hiring from a larger talent pool, including refugee individuals, as their workforce was enriched by the diverse life experience of these individuals. Attendees shared their thoughts using the online chat function, including comments such as “what a fantastic initiative (from Oliver Wyman). So inspiring to hear such sincerity at the core of your corporate endeavours to support and value refugee potential” and “an excellent point that Virendra mentioned. It's one of the main barriers- that employers don't recognise refugees right to work. We are/have been hearing it from refugees on a regular basis unfortunately, over the years.” Thank you to all the panelists who really highlighted the importance of fair hiring practices and education and support for employers, including partnerships with organisations such as ELATT and Action West London.

We are delighted that so many joined us and the excellent feedback we received, that attendees came away with useful tips and felt inspired. If you’d like to keep up to date with what we’re up to and future events, please click here to join our mailing list.

We’re also so proud to announce that our Working West London Team have been shortlisted for Team of the Year at the ERSA Employability Awards 2020. Well done to all the team!