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18th July 2011 Equality Impact Assessment on ESOL is published
“Skills Minister John Hayes today pledged to provide more effective, targeted help for people who face barriers to learning the English language skills communities”:
Minister Hayes announced that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will work in partnership with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on developing new forms of support for those who need informal, community-based learning of English
Key measures announced today include:
- BIS will work in partnership with DCLG on developing new forms of support for those who need informal, community-based learning of English
- Reiterating the offer of fully funded ESOL training for jobseekers to help them gain the language skills they need to get into work.
- For further education colleges and training organisations, a clearer remit to provide good quality English Language provision that employers are willing to pay for.
Over the summer, BIS and the Department for Communities and Local Government will work together to establish criteria for targeted local projects that meet community needs
For news announcement see http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=420448&NewsAreaID=2
The full impact assessment is available here:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/e/11-1045-english-for-speakers-of-other-languages-equality-impact.pdf
30th, June 2011 New briefings from VONNE on Localism bill and Local Enterprise Partnerships
VONNE has produced 2 new briefings on the Localism bill and Local Enterprise Partnerships. These handy briefings are 2 sides of A4 containing the most relevant information for third sector organisations.
The Localism Bill - Getting it "Right"
A new proposal which will dramatically affect the way services are delivered to the public and how individuals and communities engage in public service delivery at a local level is currently going through parliament. Proposals in the bill focus on reducing bureaucracy and increasing powers and freedoms to councils and communities. Decentralising powers from Whitehall to local authorities and encouraging planning and spending to be managed locally with local people included in planning and delivery of services. This briefing explains the proposals and how the VCS is best placed to be involved.
The Localism Bill - Getting it "Right"3 - June 2011 (PDF 235kb)
Making Sense of Local Enterprise Partnerships
In this policy briefing Jo Curry looks at the new structures in the North East that are looking to drive up economic development in the region. We now have two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) that between them cover the whole of the North East region.
Making sense of Local Enterprise Partnerships4 - June 2011 (PDF 235kb)
Asylum seekers barred from university
Guardian Newspaper report 31st May
Campaigners say new rules forcing asylum seekers to pay higher student fees with no access to grants or loans are 'deeply regressive'. Under a new rule introduced in February 2011 young people who have not been granted asylum but have been given discretionary leave to remain in the UK will have to pay Overseas Student fees, rather than the Home Student rate.
If you want to know more about the Regional Refugee Forum`s Youth Voice campaign for access to University places for young asylum seekers, please go to our Youth Voice webpages
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