Welcome to the BEGIN website.
BEGIN offers free, impartial advice for adults aged 16+ years about:
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
Functionals Skills English & Maths
We can help people in Nottingham City, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe Boroughs of Nottinghamshire.
BEGIN is funded by Nottingham College, Nottingham City Council, East Midlands Councils, BELONG and Integrate Education.
Please contact us for ESOL, Maths or English enquiries:
All staff
0115 978 0942 /
Angella - Monday to Friday
07507 113795 / 0115 884 2073
angella.reid@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
Benhur - Monday to Friday
07773 623045 / 0115 884 2074
benhur.andemeskel@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
Zineb - Monday to Friday
07580 527225 / 0115 884 2070
zineb.siari@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
Charlotte - Monday to Friday
07974 031131 / 0115 8380910
ngatong.yip@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
Trudi - Monday to Friday
07971 693977 / 0115 8380906
trudi.moloney@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
Jennifer - Monday to Wednesday
07903 827780 / 0115 884 2072
jennifer.lloyd@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
Shahida - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
07971 513178 / 0115 8380925
shahida.kausar@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
Sheri - Thursday
07940 782862 / 0115 838 0142
Sheri.parker@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk
There are a lot of people waiting for ESOL and Formal College courses are not open to everyone all year.
If you want to study ESOL, BEGIN will add your name to the waiting list for Formal ESOL courses
and help with other courses while you are waiting. Most people progress through different types of classes:
Informal Conversation Groups at churches, libraries, community venues, or with trainee teachers
More formal Community courses without exams
Formal ESOL courses that lead to exams at Nottingham College or other centres
Government funding rules have changed for adult Formal Courses that lead to exams.
Most people are now eligible to do Formal ESOL, Functional Skills or GCSE courses.
Many people can also have FREE classes.
Young people aged 16-18 years may join Nottingham College immediately, or start with Hope Academy (formerly NEST) or Catch-22 first.
Please visit the Learners page for more information about who can have FREE Formal ESOL courses.
You can also fill in an enquiry form on the Learners page.
BEGIN will contact you for more information and advise ou on your options.
ESOL - CLICK HERE -
Functional Skills English & Maths - CLICK HERE -
Getting on a Functional Skills English & Maths Course
Please note:
Your enquiry is very important, but we are getting a lot of enquiries.
We will contact you as soon as possible, but this can take several months.
Additional information
16-18-year FULL-TIME ESOL - It is a top priority to help young people attend further education. If you have completed an BEGIN enquiry form at College or online and have not heard from BEGIN within 2 weeks - please call BEGIN on the numbers above. There may be a delay in us contacting you if courses are full but we will do our best to help as soon as we can.
Hong Kong BNO status holders - BEGIN has funding to 31 March 2026 to give priority to Hong Kong BNO visa holders. Like most other learners they do not need to have lived in the UK for 3 years before they can join ESOL. Many may also be entitled to free classes. See the Learner's page for more information.
Hong Kong BNO visa holders can also visit https://hkbno.emcouncils.gov.uk/ - for free English Language resources, information about housing, immigration, employment and training, partner organisations offering social events and/or training, community support and much more! Their latest news is also regularly posted on Facebook - log on here.
All learners - if you have internet access – try English online! See the Information Sheets on the 'Other Help' page. Asylum Seekers and Refugees can also ask about online classes run by Refugee Roots.
UK SETTLEMENT for EU Citizens or their non-EU family members - see information below & contact Diana Bagci: 07834 264950 / eussnottslc@gmail.com
BEGIN IS WORKING ON THIS SITE.
If you have any problems, please phone the team.