ESOL

Wolverhampton

Information about the city, including contact details for vital services and community groups.

Housing

Private Rentals – Most people rent property from private landlords. You can find properties to rent with any Estate Agent in Wolverhampton. Find more information about private rentals here, including your rights and responsibilities:
Private Renting
Private Housing

You can find a list of professional local landlords here: Accredited Members

Right to Rent – To rent a private property, everybody must be able to show certain documents to prove that they are legally allowed to be in the country and to rent a property. This does not apply to people renting a property from the Council or living in a hostel. Find more information and a list of acceptable documents here: Right to Rent

Social Housing – Do I qualify? Social housing is another name for houses owned by the Council or Registered Social Landlords (there are several of these in Wolverhampton). The council houses are managed by Wolverhampton Homes. These houses have a long waiting list which depends on your needs. Not everybody is eligible for social housing. You can find out about housing options here:
Wolverhampton Housing
Who is eligible for council housing?

Problems with where you live – If you have problems with your landlord, your neighbours or with your property, you should report these to the Council. Find more information here:
Citizens Advice
Wolverhampton Homes
Private Housing

Healthcare

Hospitals – New Cross Hospital is the main hospital in Wolverhampton: you go here if you have an appointment or if you have a serious emergency. There are Walk-In Centres around the City where you can meet with a nurse if your problems are less serious but you still need medical attention.
Walk in centres

Doctors - Doctors who do not work in a hospital are called GPs. You would make an appointment to see your GP for problems that are not an emergency. Anybody can register with a GP. A list of all GPs in Wolverhampton can be found here:
List of all GPs

Dentists- anybody can register with an NHS dentist in the UK. Everybody has to pay a contribution to the cost of dentist treatment. You do not have to prove your immigration status to register with a dentist. More information and how to find a dentist near you: Find an NHS dentist

Can I use healthcare in Wolverhampton? - Hospitals and doctors are free to use for anybody who is an ‘Ordinary Resident’ in the UK, a refugee or an asylum seeker. You may be asked to prove this before you can receive healthcare. If you only have limited leave to remain in the UK, you may be asked to pay a yearly fee to receive healthcare. Find out more here:
Healthcare in Wolverhampton

Schools

Young children - All children need to be in school from the age of 5 in the UK. If you are a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure that your child is registered with a school. More information here:
School admissions applications

You can also apply for your child to go to school from the age of 2 – this is called nursery. More information here: Nurseries and childcare

Applying for secondary school – All children in Wolverhampton will change school at the age of 11. You will receive a letter telling you that you must apply for a place for your child many months before your child will change school. Information about how to do this: School Admissions

School attendance - It is your responsibility to make sure that your child goes to school. Children must go to school every day, unless they are sick and cannot attend. You might need to prove that they are sick if the school asks you.

School uniform – Most children from the age of 5 must wear a uniform to school. This is clothes that the school has decided that all children must wear. The school will tell you what clothes your children need to wear and where to buy them when the child is registered.

Emergency Services

Police – You should call the Police on 999: If there is an emergency, if someone is committing a crime, or if someone is using violence.
You should call the Police on 101: If it is not an emergency, if a crime has already been committed, if a car or motorbike has been stolen, if somebody is selling drugs, or if there has been a minor car accident. More information here.

Fire - In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for Fire. More Information here.

Ambulance - If there is an emergency, you can call 999 and ask for Ambulance. You can call 111 if it is not an emergency.

Make friends in Wolverhampton

There are lots of places where you can go to make friends in Wolverhampton. We suggest Community Centres which also have ESOL classes you can take. Information about Community Centres here

TLC College - TLC College is near to Wolverhampton City Centre. It is open to all the community and offers learning opportunities as well as information and advice. TLC College

City of Sanctuary - This webiste is support for refugees and asylum seekers. It also has information about ESOL classes and food banks.