A Right to a Voice campaign boosted by widespread support Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 17:00

Over 50 organisations and individuals have pledged to help NIACE with our A Right to a Voice Campaign to help asylum seekers get free English classes.

A Right to a Voice was launched on 10 December 2008 (the 60th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights) and will:

• reveal the impact of ESOL policy changes upon asylum seekers as a vulnerable group
• highlight the injustice and inefficiency of the current policy with regard to access to ESOL provision; and
• seek to change government policy in England regarding access to ESOL.

The pledges of support and help come from more than 50 organisations and individuals who will join NIACE in setting up groups of volunteers to support asylum seekers in their first six months in the country.

The groups, initially in London, will offer basic ‘first aid English', an introduction to the local area and information on key contacts; especially other refugee and asylum seeker community organisations

Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, said:

The provision of English language courses to asylum seekers is both humane and just. Being able to speak the language in the country of exile is essential to every asylum seeker.
Research shows that immediate access to English allows asylum seekers to interact with their new local neighbourhoods and it contributes to community cohesion. It enables the parent to speak to her child's teacher, to explain herself to a doctor and to begin to function independently in society without recourse to expensive translation or interpreting resources.
Newly arrived asylum seekers who begin to learn the language from day one are more likely to learn quickly and efficiently and therefore be able to work and contribute to the economy when permitted to do so.

To find out more about the A Right to a Voice Campaign, please contact Chris Taylor at chris.taylor@niace.org.uk