PRIME Minister David Cameron was criticised recently when he threatened to deport Muslim women who fail to improve their language skills. Education reporter Saiqa Chaudhari went to Bolton's own Language School to find out if minority groups are keen to learn English.

FIGHTING back the tears, a father speaks of his life in Syria before the civil war destroyed his homeland.

The 57-year-old was a farmer who proudly saw his sons qualify as doctors.

But today his family is scattered across Europe as they fled the devastation and destruction to build a new life in new countries where the language and culture is vastly different to the one they grew up with.

The married father-of-five – so terrified of the regime in Syria he pleads to keep his identity anonymous – is trying to look to the future and carve out a new life for himself.

Helping him do that is Bolton Language School, where he is learning to speak English with the help of a group of dedicated volunteers.

The refugee, who is hoping he will be reunited with his wife and sons in the near future, said: “Life was very good in Syria, but now it is finished. I am Kurdish and had to leave. This school is very good, because I am an asylum seeker I am not allowed to get a job – but one day I hope to.”

He is one of scores of people enrolling at Bolton Language School to learn English. There are currently 38 languages being spoken at the school which is nestled between offices in Bolton town centre.

Volunteers have turned it into a welcoming and, more importantly, safe environment in which students can master the language and look forward to a future with hope.

Some come to the UK looking for 'peace' and 'safety' while others want to better themselves or to play a more active role in the community.

Mustafa Kaynak, founder of the Bolton Language School, said learning English was the first step to their new lives.

“I believe if you cannot speak the language you cannot do anything, it is like you are in a prison,”said the qualified teacher. “You do not have a social life, you do not have a long term job.”

The school was founded three years ago for adults, and since then at least 1,500 have passed through. And it is getting busier – nearly 100 have enrolled since Christmas.

Mr Kaynak said: “When we first opened we mainly had people from Europe and Africa but recently we have had a lot of people from Syria. But they are from all over, we have people from everywhere including the Far East. Whereas other places have a waiting list for ESOL (English for Speakers of other Languages) we will not turn anyone away.”

Now with the crisis in the Middle East, classes are also running Saturday and Sunday, as volunteer teachers have to go back to basics to teach the alphabet.

Surprisingly, the school receives no Government funding and has only been able to access a number of small grants and has also been supported by Bolton CVS, which also helped the school set up a new computer suite.

Classes run all day, and a dozen a so students at a time learn English, maths and computer skills. The job centre refers people to the school, and there are self-referrals too.

Mr Kaynak said: “Government funding goes to the big organisations, not to organisations like us. Workers' Educational Association (WEA) have started courses here, which are accredited, and means the school has more money. The job centre sends people to the school because people have gone on training courses, which get funding, but cannot speak the language, so they come here but we get no funding. It is the system.”

He added: “We have students who are lawyers, doctors, dentists, from respected professions and now because they have had to leave their country we are teaching them.”

Mr Kaynak said the students could go on to make a difference in society.

At the centre, on Mawdsley Street, six offices spaces have been turned into four classrooms and two administration rooms. There are five volunteer teachers and eight from the WEA.

Mr Kaynak added: “We would like to do more, have functional skills courses, a canteen and other classes, but we do not have the space.”

Krysia Latham-Koenig has been a volunteer teacher since October. She said: “I desperately wanted to volunteer to help refugees. We have students here from all over, Sudan, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo.

“When they first attend they are so shy and it is about creating a safe and welcoming environment for them.

“They want to learn English and want to be able to communicate. We teach them more about the culture. It is a very rewarding role, and they appreciate that you are trying to help them.”

Raaha Mahamed, aged 48, who lives in Bolton, left Somalia to find 'peace'. “I want to get a good job and be in a good place. I came to the UK for peace,” she said.

Miniavita Kitumua, aged 44, originally for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said: “It is important to learn the language to find a job, it is better for my life and my family.”

Syrian journalist Abdul Hasib Zini, hopes one day to return to his profession. He fled the war torn country where journalists were in danger of being arrested and is starting a new life in Bolton with his wife, who he has since been reunited with.

The 38-year-old said: “Syria is a very dangerous place, and while I improve my English I will do another job before becoming a journalist again. My family are still in Homs and my brother and his children have suffered psychologically. I cannot phone him and use social media to find out about him. There are bombs going off all the time and the children do not talk anymore.”

The school hopes one day to move into purpose built premises so the environment is more conducive to teaching.

Volunteer teacher Douglas Oxer said: “I would like to have smart boards in every classroom, imagine what the school could do if we had funding?”

To find out more about the school or to help, please ring 01204 777613