Trustees | leedsmesh

Julie Linley - Chair of Trustees

Julie Linley currently works as the Education Manager at St. Vincent’s Support Centre in Leeds. She manages a large free ESOL programme and the wider Education programme and Migrant Support projects. Before working at St. Vincent’s, she was a primary school teacher, completed an MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and has been involved in teaching ESOL since. She enjoys providing training and support to teachers and trainee teachers around a learner centred approach. As an immigration adviser, she also has an interest in migration and access to ESOL for all in the community, particularly the most vulnerable.

Hannah Jameson - Trustee and Secretary

Hannah Jameson currently works for Leeds City Council’s migration programme within the Communities Team. She coordinates the Language Hub grants programme for activities in communities which bring people together and provide opportunities for conversational English practice. She also supports on the council’s work in Leeds to develop an ESOL strategy for the city. Prior to joining the council, Hannah worked in the third sector, managing and coordinating ESOL and adult learning programmes in communities. Hannah has a background in English language teaching, working in several Further Education colleges, Higher Education settings and the private sector in the UK, France and Spain. She is committed to improving access to education for all communities and celebrating linguistic diversity.

Carl Banks - Trustee2

Carl initially taught English in Europe before moving back to the UK to begin a career in the third-sector at education charity Learning Partnerships. Over the last 10 years, Carl has developed and led on a number of local and European funded programmes to support the English language development of migrants in Leeds. His passion for innovation and technology has enabled other practitioners to think about traditional teaching methods in a different light. More recently, Carl has joined Leeds City Council’s Employment Service and is involved in IAG and working with partners to improve the life chances of local residents of Leeds.

Dr James Simpson - Trustee

James Simpson was a founder of MESH and its first Chair of Trustees. He now works at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where he carries out research in language learning in migration contexts, and in the sociolinguistics of mobility and migration. He has written and edited a number of books on these topics, including Adult Language Education and Migration: Challenging Agendas in Policy and Practice (Routledge, 2015), The Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics (Routledge, 2011; 2nd ed. forthcoming), and ESOL: A Critical Guide (OUP, 2008). He manages the email discussion forum ESOL-Research, for researchers and practitioners with an interest in adult migrant language education.

Dr Martin Nickson - Trustee

Martin works as a Lecturer in the School of Education, University of Hull, where he lectures in Informal Education, Education policy, and the sociology of Education. He has also published on learner needs in ESOL and on community and voluntary ESOL. As an ESOL practitioner Martin established and participates in Talking Hull which is a participatory ESOL project offering free, open access ESOL classes on campus (at Hull) and online. He is particularly interested in access and progress for ESOL learners who want to study at University. Martin works closely with the Refugee Council and other local third sector organisations, advocating for network building in the local community and from this highlighting and actively supporting pathways to progression for ESOL learners.

Esther Derbyshire- trustee

Esther has worked in ESOL and FE for over 20 years. She is currently Head of English and ESOL at Shipley College. She manages full and part time courses in College and in the community as well as apprenticeships and traineeships. She also leads an ESOL consortium of community partners across Bradford that deliver a variety of ESOL projects. She believes in working collaboratively and strategically with others to create clear pathways for language learning. She is passionate about adult education and creating opportunities for everyone.

Edyta Bancer- trustee

Edyta joined the board of trustees in September 2021 and brings her lived experience as an ESOL learner to the group. She moved to England (from Poland) over 15 years ago and studied ESOL in her first year of being here.

Currently she works for South Yorkshire Housing Association, managing the employment support service called Working Win.

Stephen Woulds - trustee

Stephen has worked in the ESOL and FE sector for 25 years. His motivation as a new teacher was to provide second chance education to those who may have been disadvantaged. As a young adult he recognised the primacy of language and literacy for social integration and mobility so chose to qualify and teach in those subjects. His ethos has not changed. For the last 5 years Stephen has been Head of Department for ESOL at Leeds City College.