The Ruth Hayman Trust welcomes the O.B.E. awarded in the 2011 New Year Honours List to our Chair, Sheila Rosenberg, for her long term contribution to ESOL. As teacher, manager, inspector, teacher trainer, lecturer and writer, her contribution has never been less than outstanding.

In 1978, Sheila co-founded NATESLA, later NATECLA (National Association for Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults), a professional association dedicated to improving the quality of ESOL teaching across the UK and has been an active member for over 30 years. In 2007, NIACE published her book A Critical History of ESOL in the UK 1870–2006.

In 1983, she was one of the founders of the Ruth Hayman Trust which she has chaired since 1993. The Trust supports the education and training of adults settled in Britain whose first language is not English by awarding grants for course fees, examination costs, books and equipment.

Energised by her ability to motivate others, the Ruth Hayman Trust raises and distributes over £15,000 in grants annually. Sheila has ensured the meticulous examination of grant applications and the equitable allocation of funds. Naima from Somalia, a recent successful beneficiary, said “Getting help from the Trust helped me to keep up hope. Thank you from the bottom of my heart”.

Sheila’s Honour recognises the importance of her life’s work. “I firmly believe that a good grounding in the English language and an opportunity for training are the most effective ways to help immigrants integrate and participate in UK society. Hence our determined opposition to current proposals for swingeing cuts in ESOL provision”.