Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service (LCVS) has launched a new web site aimed at people in Boston who want to learn or improve their English.
Boston Borough Council secured funding for the project from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to develop the project which will feed into the governments’ strategy to ensure there is sufficient English Language provision to meet the demand.
9 local providers (Boston College, Nacro, Bringing learning into Communities, Boston English Academy, TaylorItex CIC, Bethany Church, St Botolph’s Church, Boston Children’s Centre and The Reader Shared Reading Group) have been working with LCVS to map local provision. This information has been used to develop a web site where local non English speakers can view information in their own language as to what courses are available that match their needs, for example the level of course needed, whether a qualification is required, location and time of day/day of week. The web site then facilitates a direct enquiry to the provider of their choice.
Andy Fisher, Head of Regulatory Services at Boston Borough Council says “This project will reduce barriers to accessing information and enable people to improve their language skills and quality of life. It’s a good thing for the town and the Council is pleased to have been able to access the funding to support this.
Thelma Wadsley, Project Manager, is able to provide publicity materials and offer coaching to staff and volunteers of local organisations who may be in a position to refer their client group to the web site to help them improve their English Language. Thelma is also able to support local employers to ensure that their migrant workforces can access the web site too. “We know that there are many people in the local migrant community who would benefit from being able to improve their English language, whether it is in regard to helping their children at school, understanding their rights and responsibilities or improving their job prospects. The trouble is that if their English language is poor, they have difficulty navigating their way around the different providers and courses available. The web site will provide this information in their own language and they will be able to filter courses and activities that suit their personal circumstances. We will be monitoring the project to ensure that needs are being met and if needed explore the potential for additional course options.”
The web site can be accessed at https://www.learnenglishinbostonuk.co.uk/
For more information or to obtain publicity materials or coaching for staff or volunteers please contact thelmawadsley@lincolnshirecvs.org.uk