Celebrating 10 Years of Lingo Flamingo!
Did you know… 2025 marks the 10th Anniversary of Lingo Flamingo?! Since we took flight in 2015, we’ve delivered over 10,000 language classes! From our community classes (in our Shawlands hub and online) to care homes, day centres and community groups across Scotland (and beyond!), we’ve enriched the lives of more than 4,500 learners along the way.
Let’s take a look back and celebrate the milestones Lingo Flamingo have made over the past 10 years!
Lingo Flamingo was born and began teaching older adults in day centres and care homes. In December 2015, it was launched by Nicola Sturgeon.
2015
We begin to offer more classes across a wider geographical range. Lingo Flamingo sells its first class to a care home and so starts its first steps in becoming a sustainable social enterprise.
2016
Lingo Flamingo starts to do intergenerational classes with Scottish primary schools and also has its first student over the age of 100.
2017
Lingo received social investment and buys our nest in Shawlands, we then begin to offer classes to members of the public for the very first time with 30 students partaking in our first semester.
2018
We start an international collaboration with European partners in Romania, Slovenia and Greece and for the first time our materials are being used outside of the UK.
2019
Covid19 and lockdown force Lingo Flamingo to adapt their delivery model as care home and nest classes our taught online for the first time.
2020
We become a SQA approved centre and begin to provide national 2 SQA certified courses for our older adult learners.
2021
Lingo Flamingo win the Health & Social Care award at the Scottish Social Enterprise awards and the Threlford Cup from the Chartered Institute of Linguists for inspiring the learning of foreign languages.
2022
We develop an online learning portal called “Eflock” which provides additional materials and learning opportunities for our nest learners. In June 2023, Lingo Flamingo becomes a Scottish charity.
2023
By November, Lingo Flamingo have officially taught over 10,000 classes in both the hub and the care homes. After starting with 30 students in the nest in 2018, we now have over 300 students per semester.
2024
We turn 10 years old and host an anniversary party to thank our wonderful staff, students, tutors, board members, funders and partners, who have all played a massive role in our success.
2025
Over the last 10 years, we have grown Lingo Flamingo into a fully functioning social enterprise! And, although we still have many social goals and new projects which we would like to achieve, we want to reflect on our journey so far and thank everyone for their involvement and support of the organisation! Whether you’ve been taking classes with us for years or you’re just embarking on your Lingo journey, thank you for choosing to support and learn with us!
Now it’s over to you…do you have a special memory to share? Maybe a funny incident from one of your classes? Moments you’ve been able to put your learning into practice? We’d love to hear from you and create a collection of Lingo memories!
To get involved, send your submissions to: lottie.townend@lingoflamingo.co.uk
Written by: Lottie Townend