Events

General Support for Hong Kongers

Barnardo’s Boloh helpline also offers continued support for Hongkongers by providing advice on a range of issues, including but not limited to housing options, access to education, welfare, placement and resettlement. They also offer emotional support and sessions of therapy by Barnardo’s qualified therapists. You can access the helpline by calling: 0800 151 2605 or emailing: hongkong@barnardos.org.uk. Please note the helpline is open 10am-8pm, Monday – Friday and 10am-3pm on Saturdays. For more information visit their website by clicking on the button below.

Informal English Class

Knowledge First are due to start monthly informal English classes online for Hong Kong BN(O)s to improve their English. The classes will start in November 2024 and will run until July 2025. They will be held 10:00am-12:00pm on the first Thursday of the month and they are open for anyone on the Hong Kong BN(O) scheme at any level of English learning. To register for the classes email: nemp@middlesbrough.gov.uk or for more details click the button below.

Co-Farming Program

The North East Hongkongers Club have arranged for a few areas of Jesmond Farmhouse to be used for a Co-Farming Program for people to grow in an environmentally friendly and ecologically friendly manner in a community garden. The program will run over the space of a year and the planting plots consist of a square wooden frame in 122cm in length, 122cm width and 18cm in height. Basic farming tools are provided including fertilisers, soil, seasonal seeds and stable water supply.

The program is is free to sign up, however participants need to go to the farm every week to take care of their own crops/plant. Participants are welcome to take away their own crop harvest to share with others. Planting guidance is also offered on a one-to-one basis for £10 an hour. For more details on the programme please click the button below.

English for Employability Course for Hong Kong BN(O)s

EnglishUp! will be hosting an online English for employability course for Hong Kong BN(O)’s from Tuesday the 13th of May until 29th July 2025. This will be the cycle two of the course consisting of 12 sessions, held every Tuesday from 10am-1pm and will focus on the following: Job seeking preparation, decision making, business etiquette, communication at work, career development, customer service, data and reports, cultural differences and small talk.

There are only 10 places available so if you are interested in attending please get in touch by emailing nemp@middlesbrough.gov.uk. More information can be found by clicking the poster below.

Cooking Classes for Hong Kong BN(O)s

Nourish Food School are hosting cooking classes for BN(O)s in the Newcastle area, for free, funded via the NE Hong Kong Hub. The classes are in-person, in two different venues and on different dates, starting 18 March and ending in July 2025. The first three classes will focus on North East or popular UK meals, please find the schedule on the poster below. You do not have to be available for all dates to register your interest, we will be advertising them separately and timings for the Saturday classes will be confirmed soon.

If you are interested in any of the classes, please email nemp@middlesbrough.gov.uk to confirm your interest, we will then advertise the classes on a first come first served basis.

B1 English Test Prep Course – 16th May 2025 10:00am-4:00pm

JET are hosting a B1 preparation English exam to help those who are ready to apply for permanent residence next year but still haven’t taken the B1 English test, or are you looking for someone to practice basic skills and do a mock exam to boost confidence in the exam? The course is free, face-to-face and may be perfect for you. People can sign up if they are currently living in Newcastle or Gateshead and if they are BN(O) visa holders and their families (not attending other institutions). The assessment date will take place on the 16th May 10am-4pm at Carnegie Building, Atkinson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 8XS but the course will run June to August for 12 weeks. The course will focus on speaking in different tenses, opinions, advice etc. (modal verbs), writing skills, conditionals, listening and an opportunity for a mock Exam.

Fire Station Education Tour – 21st June 2025, 1:00pm – 3:30pm

This opportunity offers an educational, free of charge, weekend fun activity for the family. explore fire engines, learn about fire equipment and interact with real firefighters. The session will also cover fire safety in the home, volunteering opportunities, a guided tour of the fire station and opportunities such as the fire cadets programme and the Price’s Trust (for young people aged 16-25). It will take place on Saturday 21 June 2025 from 1:00-3:30pm at Newcastle Central Community Fire Station, Elswick Road, NE4 6HL. Click the button below to find out more.

Little Foodies Pizza Class – 28th June 2:00pm-3:00pm

Make pizza, have fun and enjoy family time with this free opportunity to make pizza with all materials included. The event will take place in English at 173-175 Gosforth High Street, Newcastle, NE3 1HE. There are 12 places available and each place is for one child and one adult. Click the button below to find out more.

Community Gathering Event – 5th July 12:30-2:00pm at Newcastle City Library

The North East Hongkongers Club have organised a community gathering session for Hongkongers in Newcastle to share their opinions and learn how to communicate them to their MP, local councillor or government departments. There are three slots available for this event, each open to five participants, in a group sharing setting. Click the button below to find out more.

Alnwick Castle Trip – A tour of the Harry Potter scene- 19th July

There are several Harry Potter movie filming scenes in the North East of England, a lot of which take part in Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. On 19th July the North East Hongkongers Club have organised a trip and will be taking a tour of the castle from 9:30am-5:30pm. For this event, there will be two tickets types, one for Alnwick free tour and the other for Alnwick Castle Cantonese guided tour. For more details, click the button below to find out more.