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Good Practice Examples in the Region
New Approach to ESOL - Cambridgeshire
The former government’s new approach to ESOL allows local authorities to have more say on who has priority for funding based on the needs of excluded groups and delivery partners. The Cambridgeshire MAF was invited to present and share their ESOL action plan with other regional MAF chairs at the February 2010 regional MACF meeting.
Cambridgeshire had carried out a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment which feeds into the MAF’s action plan, of which ESOL is a significant part. At local authority level it was agreed that the Cambridgeshire MAF should be the owner of this ESOL action plan which is to be overseen by the Safer and Stronger Communities Board within the Local Area Agreement. A steering group has been set up and £100,000 allocated for projects and initiatives to support the local delivery of ESOL. It is hoped that the Cambridgeshire example will be followed as a good example in the region as it identifies priority need and allows greater flexibility in ESOL delivery.
Tackling Hate Crime - Norfolk
The Norfolk Multi Agency Protocol (MAP) has been developed to increase third party reporting of hate crime. The protocol is victim-oriented and outlines standards and processes for reporting hate crime and incidents. The protocol incorporates all forms of hate crime including that directed at people on the basis of age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic or national origin, religion, faith or belief. The protocol is owned by the Norfolk County Strategic Partnership with responsibility delegated to the Community Cohesion Network and County Strategy Group-Crime Reduction. Norfolk Constabulary and the Norfolk Police Authority lead on the MAP with support from the Hate Crime Group which includes the Norwich and Norfolk Race Equality Council (NNREC). NNREC will be presenting the protocol to the regional MACF meeting in October 2010 as an example of good practice. The MAP now has 50 signatory agencies and is open to all stakeholder organizations. The MAP can be downloaded here.
Combating Destitution - Peterborough, Kings Lynn and Wisbech
The NRPF (No Recourse to Public Funds) Relocation programme is a national initiative aimed at reducing rough sleeping of migrant workers in London. It was adopted in Peterborough as a crime reduction initiative to provide support to destitute A8/A2 migrants outside London accessing the labour market or returning to their home countries. In November 2009 the Peterborough initiative was presented to the regional NRPF network members as an example of good practice. For more information about the Relocation Programme in Peterborough, please contact Kasia Chiva, New Link Centre, Peterborough, Kasia.chiva@peterborough.gov.uk
Other projects in our region also aim at reducing destitution and rough sleeping amongst migrant workers. These projects have been funded under the Migration Impact Fund (MIF) and are operational in Wisbech and Kings Lynn.
In Kings Lynn, the Purfleet Trust Day Centre Project aims to improve the health and wellbeing of migrants by reducing street homelessness amongst this client group and improve access to health, community care, mental health and drug and alcohol services. The project provides migrants with general information, advice and advocacy services; benefits advice; language services; housing advice; ESOL classes; social activities and volunteering opportunities and support in accessing the labour market and training. By providing these services, the project hopes to reduce the pressures on existing services; improve community cohesion and community safety, reduce crime and anti-social behaviour; and help migrants to integrate into the local community. For more information about this project, please contact Paula Hall, Purfleet Trust Chief Executive, paulahall.purfleet@btconnect.com
In Wisbech, the Emergency Accommodation and Casework Support Project intends to establish a 12 bednight shelter in Wisbech to provide emergency accommodation to migrants with no recourse to public funds. 6 ‘move-on’ bed spaces are provided for clients that require more intensive support for up to 1-2 months. The project is also recruiting two bi-lingual support officers to provide clients with information, advice and advocacy on topics such as health and community care services, benefits, housing and support in accessing the labour market. For more information about this project, please contact Keith Smith, Director, Ferry Project and Hope Social Enterprises, keith.smith@luminus.org.uk
Action Plan template
MENTER’s Partnership Development Project has produced a generic action plan template which may be useful to Multi-Agency Forums working on asylum-seeker, refugee and migrant worker issues. The template can be downloaded here.
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