Conversation Over Borders offers free online English classes, mental health and digital access support to refugees and asylum seekers across the UK. Our work started during the first COVID-19 lockdown in order to bring people together in a time of isolation.

We operate under four main projects: English & Befriending, Wellbeing, Digital Inclusion, and Refugee Voices. Our English & Befriending Project brings together displaced people and the wider community through our one-to-one English classes to facilitate human connection, reduce social isolation and build confidence in spoken English. Our Wellbeing Project offers online peer-to-peer mental health support groups and support for refugee clients, where active participation and facilitation of the group sessions by people with lived experience of displacement is encouraged. Our Digital Inclusion Project repurposes donated phones, laptops and tablets by passing them onto refugees and asylum seekers across the UK alongside prepaid data-loaded sim cards. This works in conjunction with our other Projects so that clients can access our online support, and stay connected to their friends, families and communities. Our Refugee Voices Project platforms the voices of displaced people through film, photography and writing. Through our current project, in partnership with Refugee Radio and National Lottery Heritage Fund, we have released a documentary and book in April 2023.