Gurkha Resettlement Education and Adult Training (GREAT) project

Over the next 3 years NIACE will:

• Conduct a national research project to determine the language needs of, and existing ESOL provision for, the Gurkha community
• Draw together all providers, agencies and voluntary sector organisations working with Gurkhas, including other European Integration funded (EIF) projects, to share good practice
• Develop new ESOL provision and Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) for newly arrived Gurkha spouses, Gurkha families and newly retired Gurkhas
• Contribute to a national strategy for successful Gurkha settlement

NIACE has been awarded European Integration Funding (EIF) through the UK Border Agency to work with Greenwich Community College; Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association; Coleg Powys; Barnet College and the Gurkha Welfare Trust to develop and deliver new ESOL provision to Gurkha spouses living in England and Wales.

The GREAT project partners will broker new partnerships in the Nepalese community and voluntary sector to promote ESOL opportunities to Gurkha community groups and to form support networks and liaison between other organisations that share the same goals.

The GREAT project will provide valid and reliable data for the future planning of adult learning for Gurkhas. Gurkhas will be identified as an appropriate priority group in the Government's ESOL policy and the relevant local authorities will be helped to meet those individuals' learning needs.

At present ESOL provision has been set up for over 100 Gurkhas and their families living in England and Wales.

An Experts' Seminar took place on 30th November 2010 that brought together specialists who are currently working with Gurkhas to share good practice, examine the needs of the Gurkha community and contribute to a national strategy for Gurkha resettlement and adult learning in the UK. It also provided a unique chance for high-level networking with specialists from the Gurkha and Nepalese community, Army, MoD, ESOL providers, training organisations, Local Authorities and other interested organisations. Click on the link below to download a copy of the Experts' Seminar Report.

A GREAT project email network group has been set up to enable network members to keep in touch, share examples of good practice and to continue discussion on strategies for engaging this priority group in learning and aiding their integration. If you would like to join the network please contact Al Lockhart Smith.

Documents
	Experts' Seminar Report - [PDF]

The expected impact of this project is:

• Gurkha spouses' English language levels improve, aiding integration and enabling them to participate more effectively in the community
• Elderly and ex-Gurkhas, newly retired, are better equipped to integrate into mainstream UK society due to enhanced language skills and better quality IAG
• Local authorities contribute to a national strategy for supporting Gurkhas and their families
• Local authorities replicate models of effective practice in ESOL provision for Gurkha spouses and families

Al Lockhart Smith

alistair.lockhart@niace.org.uk