A DORSET college has invited Ukrainian refugees to take part in an English course designed to help them integrate into the community.

Bournemouth and Poole College is holding five-day long English courses aimed for Ukrainian refugees with minimal English skills.

Run from the college’s Lansdowne campus in Bournemouth, the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course focuses on essential communication skills including reading, writing, listening, and spelling to help with conversations, form filling and every-day life in the UK.

The college hopes the course will help refugees arriving in the area to feel more at ease and less isolated.

Vanessa McMullen, ESOL learning manager at Bournemouth & Poole College, said: “We are aiming to provide as much support as possible for those who have been forced to leave Ukraine and who want to make the most of the educational opportunities on offer here.

“It is hoped that learning these skills will make it easier for non-native English speakers to fully integrate and settle in the UK. We can guarantee a warm welcome for the students, and we’re delighted that students are saying our application and enrolment process is helpful and friendly.”

As well as the offering of the English course, Ukrainian students over the age of 16 have the opportunity to study at the college from this September.

To apply, visit thecollege.co.uk.

For more information on the ESOL course, email esol@bpc.ac.uk.