Welcome to the British Council site.

Creating opportunities worldwide

What it means

Our work aims to strengthen understanding and trust between and within different cultures. We support people striving for better informed, more inclusive societies that accept, respect and welcome each other. 

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To help lay the foundations for cooperation and trust between people, our Global Xchange programme brings together young people from different countries to work on community-based projects.


 

Read more about intercultural dialogue [PDF 999KB]

What it means

Our work here promotes the UK as a global centre for education, knowledge, skills and creativity. We build relationships that strengthen the UK's position in these areas, and we create opportunities that enable talent and ideas to be shared freely across national boundaries.

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Sri Lanka and Thailand are just two of the countries where we are helping people to get the skills and connections they need to prosper in the modern world economy.

Read more about UK creative and knowledge economy

What it means

Climate change is having an impact upon everyone and all sectors of society. Through strengthening networks and relationships among people, we are increasing understanding of the case for tackling climate change and championing implementation of international agreements that address the threats of climate change. 

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In the high Arctic young people from around the world learn first-hand about the effect of global warming in one of the world’s most fragile environments.

Read more about tackling climate change

Featured highlights

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LearnEnglish Podcasts

Learn English in a fun way with our range of podcasts. Listen to them on your computer or download them. There's something for everyone – from school learners to adults and from elementary to advanced level learners.

Turning the Tide

Photography competition

If you're aged between 16 and 25 and have a keen eye for capturing the effects of climate change, enter our photography competition to win the chance to have your work exhibited at international exhibition Turning the Tide.

Noticeboard

Obama: Restoring US’s standing lies in restoring cultural relations

People polled on our survey in the US and UK reveal shared views on the challenges faced in 2009