An academy in Manchester is playing a pivotal role in vastly improving the language skills of non-English speaking residents from all over the world.
The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Academy, run by skills specialist Seetec Outsource, is aiming to decrease unemployment and create a course to help non-English speakers integrate into their communities and boost their job opportunities.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment has risen to unprecedented highs – including a 2.6 percentage point increase in Manchester, bringing it up from 4.1% in March to 6.7% of the city’s working age population as of April 2020.
As well as increasing job opportunities, the course is keen to help its ESOL learners integrate into society, especially since lockdown has left many feeling isolated and alone; in turn affecting mental health.
The Academy said: “The deep-rooted values of the Skills Academy are aimed at empowering individuals across the community with the tools to achieve their work ambitions.”
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Lubna Abdelmoneim, mother of four, came from Sudan to Manchester last year and started the course in September.
She said: “I do this for job opportunities, but for my kids also, because I am learning here, now I have to keep up with them because my kids, they are learning fast.
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“I don’t want it to be like at some point different languages and I can’t understand what they are reading or what they are doing and then I can’t help them with their homework, so I would like to be able to help them. I want a better life.”
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As well as providing socially distanced face-to-face lessons during the week, the Academy has also given every ESOL learner a free tablet, with data and storage, as many may not have a home laptop or even a WiFi connection.
Tutor Nina Snelson said: “It’s about giving a bit more for them, so that they can learn more easily, rather than one; trying to learn a language, and then two; thinking I can’t do this because I can’t even see the screen.”
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Workbooks are also available to download for those without access to technology, and during the first national lockdown in March, Nina personally printed and posted workbooks to the learners in order to ensure that they were progressing.
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This course targets those who are aiming to improve themselves and their lives, and it is clear how important both the learning and the social interaction is for the people who attend.
Darko Cule, originally from Croatia, has lived in Ireland for the last four years, and moved to Manchester last year, where he found and lost a job in a short period of time due to the pandemic.
He said: “You don’t have anything to do you have to stay at home, and I don’t think this situation is good for anyone and I feel really good coming here every day Monday to Thursday, having a chat with my colleagues which I really like, jokes here, and it really helps.
“Especially because you learn something, English is not my first language you know and you can always improve and learn something new that will help you later.”
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Seetec Outsource
The lockdown caused issues for this course as it did across all educational settings, but the stakes were higher for these ESOL learners because many felt that their job prospects were hugely hindered until they had a stronger English Language base.
Michal Woszczyk is from Poland but has been a resident Mancunian for six years.
He realised his IT business was in trouble due to the pandemic and felt that he needed to improve his English skills in order to give his business the best chance to bounce back.
He said: “In the beginning it was very difficult for me to communicate with some customers because they did not feel very comfy when I spoke with them, but when I showed them how much experience I have, they trusted me. This is why I wanted to do this course.”
As well as his current IT business, Michal also has a history of tutoring in Poland in IT and graphic design, and he hopes to continue further down this career path upon the completion of the course.
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The community aspect of the courses on offer are essential; enabling people to sit in a room together and bond over a shared objective – which has a great impact on mental health but also helps to diminish prejudice and stigma.
Aiming to end stereotypes that surround many people who take this course was a key factor in why tutor Nina took this role.
She said: “As a British born individual I have a real problem with other individuals who have a negative opinion of people who can be considered an ESOL learner.
“They may be blamed for taking over certain aspects of the country etc, and it is something that I want to change.”
Nina encompasses everything that this course represents and every life-changing teacher that most of us have had, she is determined to help others make a positive change to their lives.
What is obvious about this course is that it is attended by people who are determined, intelligent and willing to learn in order to increase their chances at a better life.
Feature
Vanilli’s – the Manchester bakery and dessert spot that has carried on the tradition of an old Italian favourite
Danny Jones
Vanilli’s Cake Company is one of those names whose reach extends far and wide, with a history that goes way back into the past, and a deeper Greater Manchester heritage than you can imagine.
It’s one almost as rich as the desserts they’ve been making across the city centre and beyond for decades, but it also begins back in Italy.
Formerly San Marco Products, a fellow cult-favourite bakery, suppliers and catering company from way back, owner Sapna Kumar took over their old premises on Crown Industrial Estate over in Ancoats more than six years ago, and has been carrying on their sweet treat traditions ever since.
The difference these days is that it’s gone from more of an Italian ‘pasticceria’ to a Mancunian bakery with both local and Indian roots.
Born out of pregnancy cravings ahead of her third child, ironically, Vanilli’s Cake Co. went from an unfortunately timed passion project conceived on the cusp of the pandemic to a mainstay of Greater Manchester and North West markets and now part of a mini Manc empire in the making.
After taking control of the old commercial premises back in 2020, their understated but impressively high-output unit still has lots of regulars in the know coming in for the good stuff, but still operates somewhat under the radar.
Maybe that’s part of the reason their quality control has remained at such a high level: although they provide to plenty of vendors all across the city and wider region, they’ve never overextended themselves to the point that even the slightest of standards slips.
If you’ve met Sapna before – the charismatic matriarch behind this brand and others like spin-off Cake Bar Co. and most recently, Punjabee – you’ll know that she doesn’t do anything by half measures.
And yes, there are Vanilli’s desserts on sale here, too.
A familiar face at the likes of Foodie Friday and various other street food stalls across the 10 boroughs and even further afield, she’s been doing some of these events since the very outset.
Sadly, without going into too much detail, she admits that there have been instances where her generosity has been “taken advantage of on more than one occasion”, but they will never stop her continuing to offer a helping hand.
The difference this time, however, is that she’s not simply putting others before herself all the time anymore; the Manc mum who’s played mother to many through her work over the years is finally shouting about herself and her unsung but nevertheless dedicated and talented team more.
And not just a little bit, either (no half measures, remember?) – she proudly proclaims that not only does Vanilli’s serve up some of the most authentic traditional recipes, but she happily lays claim to whipping up “the best Manchester tart” you’ll find anywhere.
As for this location, specifically, she simply wants to give people like you a reminder that it’s been there for more than 30 years at this point
She’s also looking to rebuild support throughout the community by teaming up with local brands and creators moving forward. Again, it’s about time she finally got on the receiving end of ‘You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’, which sounds like it’s long overdue.
Having recently put on a speciality spread for us, showcasing not only the classic but some fresh new ideas and creative takes on familiar, we can assure you some very delicious things are coming from Vanilli’s throughout the rest of 2026.
So, if like Sapna, you love “indulging in the sweeter side of life”, give a Vanilli’s cake, pastry or one of their other tasty desserts soon.
Find all of these and more at Unit 8, Crown Industrial, Poland Street, M4 6BN. (Credit: The Manc)
Blossoms deliver most rock and roll performance in years as Declan McKenna joins them on stage
Danny Jones
Last night, we were fortunate enough to be there in the flesh not only to see Blossoms play a special anniversary show in Manchester, but to witness Declan McKenna join them on stage.
A tiny part of us was wondering if we’d see Rick Astley roll out into the venue, but let’s just say we’ll absolutely take this.
Celebrating a decade to the day since the release of the self-titled debut LP – yes, we feel old, too – Blossoms announced the one-off intimate show at The Deaf Institute, a venue they hadn’t played in 12 whole years (good lord…), and it served as much more than a night of nostalgia.
But we’ll admit, the highlight was almost certainly seeing the ‘Brazil’ and ‘British Bombs’ singer join Tom Ogden, Charlie Salt, Josh Dewhurst, Myles Kellock and Joe Donovan on stage for their smallest gig since god knows when.
We’ve gotten somewhat used to seeing the Enfield-born solo artist popping up at random venues across the country and even performing DJ sets at local pubs.
If you haven’t seen that Kylie Minogue clip before, you really need to…
However, we don’t think anyone in the crowd was expecting this cameo, let alone hearing them perform a co-written track off the new record live in front of the audience for the very first time.
As if all of this wasn’t already a bit bonkers and left-field, the song in question, entitled ‘Additional Driver’, was self-admittedly so surprising in SO many ways that Tom felt he needed to explain the full story behind it and why Declan shouted “shoulda got the 192” before they started playing.
Yes, in some kind of Greater Mancunian fever dream, we’ve finally got artists writing lyrics about the region’s most infamous bus route that we’re sure most, if not all of you, can relate to.
But it wasn’t just this moment that had us debating in our heads, ‘are they the best Manc or maybe in Northern band full stop going right now?’, it was seeing them slip so seamlessly back into the more straight-down-the-line indie rock from their first chapter of studio material that did it.
Everyone knows and loves the biggest bangers from that inaugural outing: ‘Getaway’, ‘Charlemagne’, ‘At Most a Kiss’, ‘Honey Sweet’, etc.; but it’s hard to forget just how quintessentially rock and roll tunes like ‘Blow Rose’, ‘Cut Me and I’ll Bleed’, ‘Texia’ and even some of the other deep cuts/early releases are.
Don’t get us wrong, we love how much the dressing up (musically and quite literally) they’ve done over the years as their production, creativity and experimentation has increased, but it’s always hard to beat that feeling you get when finding an artist’s first album – especially one as good as Blossoms‘.
In fairness, listening back to ‘Deep Grass’ all these years later, we’ll still remember how spacey, psychedelic and downright different that intro felt back in the day; it now feels like a fitting end to that maiden outing and the perfect jumping-off point for what has been a real sonic exploration ever since.
For a lad born in SK2 and lucky enough to have seen these lads right from the start, stuff like this will never not feel surreal to me.
Long live ‘Blossoms from Stockport‘, and roll on Songs From The Wedding Cake this October.
Gemma Bradley -
16th December 2020 
