English for BN(O)s

Local Authority – English Classes Funding

Arrivals on the Hong Kong BN(O) visa scheme are eligible to receive up to £850 of English language courses. As of the 1 August 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) have simplified residency eligibility for the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), enabling BN(O)s to access mainstream English language provision from day one. From 31 March 2026, the bespoke English language funding (£850pp) will no longer be available. To support a smooth transition, the £850pp funding remains available until 31 March 2026 for cases where ASF provision does not meet the needs of BN(O)s or where individuals are not eligible under the new rules. The new rule changes currently only apply to areas where ASF is non-devolved. In Mayoral Combined Authority areas where ASF is devolved they will have the choice of adopting the new eligibility rules from 1^st August 2025, or they can choose to delay the changes by 12 months.

The process to access these language courses (English for Speakers of Other Languages or ‘ESOL’) is as follows:

1. The HK BN(O) visa holder contacts the local authority to find out how to apply.
2. The local authority informs the HK BN(O) visa holder which ESOL providers and which courses they can access.
3. The HK BN(O) visa holder provides proof of their visa status to the local authority (e.g. share code).
4. The HK BN(O) visa holder attends the course for free (the learning provider should never charge the HK BN(O) holder for this tuition). 
5. The local authority claim back the funding.

If you are unsure which local authority you are located within, click here and type in your postcode. Once you know your local authority area, click on the button for that local authority, and you will see what is on offer within that area. E.g. if it says “Your local authority is Middlesbrough Borough Council,” click Middlesbrough.

For further information, contact the NE BN(O) Welcome Hub – nemp@middlesbrough.gov.uk

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Adult Skills Fund (ASF) Funding

What is the Adult Skills Fund?

The Adult Skills Fund is a fund that has been set up by the government to help support the delivery of education and training to people aged 19 and over.

Can BN(O)s access English language classes funded through ASF?

BN(O) status holders and their family members aged 19 and over can access further education training, including English language courses funded through the Adult Skills Fund, once they meet the published residency criteria, including the 3 years ordinary residency requirement.

Learners who meet the residency eligibility criteria in section 1 and are below the earnings threshold criteria or unemployed will also be fully funded. To meet the earnings threshold criteria, learners must be employed, or self-employed, up to and including level 2 and the level 3 offers, and earning below than £25,000 annual gross salary.

Learners who have exhausted their first full level 2 entitlement and do not meet the definition of being below the earnings threshold or unemployed will be co-funded.

What is the residency criteria for those on the BN(O) scheme?

UK nationals or other person with a right of abode have an eligible residency status if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or the British Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning. All family members of UK nationals must meet the required residency eligibility criteria in their own right.

Further information on the Adult Skills Fund can be found below.

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ESOL Providers

Local colleges provide ESOL; if you are able to self-fund, there are a number of opportunities to access an ESOL course with a local college, such as:

• Newcastle College
• Gateshead College
• New College Durham
• Tyne Metropolitan College
• South Tyneside College
• Middlesbrough College

There are two additional language and skills academies in the North East region. The NE BN(O) Welcome Hub is currently part-funding BN(O) status holders to take a variety of English classes of their choice (Business English, General English, IELTS exam preparation etc.) as well as the opportunity to become an English language teacher through CELTA training. Classes will be provided by the academies below.

For more information, or to register your interest in a class, please contact nemp@middlesbrough.gov.uk.

• Knowledge First (Newcastle based)
• International House (Newcastle based)

NEMP has also created a guide to provide a centralised place of ESOL providers across the Northeast of England so that anyone can easily see what is available within their area and the different existing resources.

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VCSE Organisations – ESOL Providers

Some VCS organisations provide ESOL/ English language classes to Hong Kong BN(O) status holders. VCS organisations also have informal language classes, such as ‘conversation classes,’ which are open to asylum seekers and refugees.

• Jobs, Education and Training (JET) – 0191 273 5761
• Investing in People and Culture (IPC) – 07411157589