LAUNCH OF NIACE CAMPAIGN

A right to a voice: Survival English for Asylum Seekers

Wednesday 10 December 2008, London, 9.45am – 3.15pm

Attendance is free

Substantial research evidence shows that language is the key to social integration for newcomers to Britain and also leads to employment giving newcomers an opportunity to contribute to the economy. NIACE calls on a wide range of organisations and individuals to support asylum seekers in the first six months in the UK and offer them ‘survival English’ within a ‘Welcome to Britain’ programme of support. This will include getting to know your local area, accessing essential local services and some basic first aid English.

Volunteers from community groups, faith groups and the wider community are asked to join us in this challenging initiative to raise awareness of the needs of asylum seekers and to put right a social injustice.

Background
On 10th December 1948, in the wake of the Second World War, the government signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which recognised education as a universal right of men and women, whatever their nationality, race or circumstances.

Housing pressures in British cities partly result from the net migration of people to Britain over the past ten years. Immigration has also changed the nature of minority ethnic communities, while longestablished minority ethnic communities are changing with successive generations. What does recent research tell us about the nature of these changes, and their impact on policy and practice in housing and neighbourhood renewal?

Some of the key points include:
Policy should recognise that two groups in particular – asylum seekers/ refugees and many Muslim people – feel discriminated against. A radical change of language and policy is needed at central Government level to address this.

Policy on funding of minority groups should recognise the need for services targeted at new migrants and for work targeted at isolated groups within longer-established communities. There is also a need for targeted community development work in many ‘white’ communities.

Read more at http:

Empowering the voluntary sector
Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, this project brings together NAVCA and the Public Law Project (PLP) to support the voluntary and community sector to understand the principles and framework of public law. The aim of the project is to strengthen the relationship between voluntary and community organisations and public bodies and significantly increase opportunities to influence funding and other decisions made by public bodies.

It will consist of:
A national programme of public law workshops
A programme of four public law masterclasses in early 2009
A free legal advice line
A quarterly newsletter

Kevin Curley, chief executive of NAVCA says: "Small organisations often feel helpless when they are informed from on high that their funding is being withdrawn or services are being cut. This project will give them the information and support they need to challenge unjust decisions taken by public bodies. It will help them develop the confidence to engage in a robust dialogue, making litigation an option of last resort to tackle those public bodies that continue to shirk their responsibilities.

Communities and Local Government is inviting applications to the £7.5m Empowerment Fund, which will run from 2009-12. The Fund was announced in the 'Communities in Control' white paper and will provide three-year grants for community empowerment organisations operating across England. Closing date is 6th January 2009. http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1005709

The Empowerment Fund is not designed to support local organisations directly. While recognising that local or regional organisations play an important role in empowering communities they are not the focus of this fund.

If your organisation is not eligible to apply, there are other sources of funding available at www.governmentfunding.org
The Office of the Third Sector has funded Grassroots Grants which is a £130m programme that aims to invest in a thriving community sector. The fund is delivered by the Community Development Foundation (CDF) and a list of local funders is
available from their website: www.cdf.org.uk