Statement of ServiceNorth East Equality & Diversity Partnership
Focusing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) on Community Cohesion
I believe good English language skills are critically important for life, work and social cohesion in this country. Darra Singh's recent report "Our Shared Future" on Integration and Cohesion published in June 2007 showed that the ability to communicate effectively is the most important issue facing integration and cohesion for both settled and new communities in Britain.
The Government is committed to fostering cohesion in all our communities and I am working with colleagues to ensure this happens. One of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)'s key contributions to this agenda is our funding and management of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision.
Our ESOL policy is a success: we have helped 2 million people improve their English language skills and take vital steps towards employment and social inclusion. Between 2001 and 2004 ESOL spending tripled, and is now just under £300m.
But even with this investment, there are still too many long-term residents committed to making a contribution to Britain who cannot engage with other people in their neighbourhoods - let alone play an active role in their communities - simply because their lack of English prevents it. This is having a negative impact on their life chances and limiting their ability to integrate. It is this group we wish to prioritise. But Government cannot do this on its own.
So this document sets out our aim that ESOL funding should be more specifically targeted to foster community cohesion and integration in our communities. This is a radical move and will need local, regional and national partners to work closely together. I look forward to receiving your views on how we can best do this.
JOHN DENHAM
Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills
January 2008
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"Only an inclusive society that creates opportunities for all its people will be able to meet the global challenges of the 21st Century. We will build social integration and community cohesion by raising aspirations and broadening participation in learning and skills."
The Rt Hon John Denham MP,
Secretary of State for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (2007)
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"English is both an important part of our shared heritage and a key access factor for new communities to the labour market and wider society. It binds us together as a single group in a way that a multiplicity of community languages cannot... We are therefore committed to the importance of English language training for all communities."
The Commission on Integration and Cohesion Report - Our Shared Future (2007)
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"I am very pleased to endorse the Government's intention to place community cohesion at the heart of ESOL provision. I believe that English language skills are fundamental to integration and cohesion for all communities and helps to create strong, positive relationships between people from different backgrounds in the workplace, in schools and other institutions within neighbourhoods. Your views too are very important and I urge you to get involved in the consultation."
Darra Singh, Chair of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion (2007)
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"Many people in our communities place enormous value on their learning to communicate in English. To them and their families it is the key to unlock economic success, participation in education and, above all, contribution to their neighbourhoods. In many places, English is the catalyst for cohesion and advancement. We know the demand is there and it is our duty to find the fairest way to promote access to high quality English language teaching for people making their lives in our communities. I welcome the opportunity to look forward to a fresh approach to this important question and to help shape a new way to promote inclusion and diversity. I warmly welcome the clarity in these proposals and endorse the intention and direction."
Ruth Silver, Lewisham College (2007)
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"A welcome document - the drawing together of community cohesion and ESOL is timely and urgent. Having chaired some of the Race Equality Impact Assessment consultation meetings, I think the document sets out some of the major issues that need to be addressed."
Maggie Semple, The Experience Corps (2007)
February 12, 2008
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