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Friday 22nd December 2023

Welcome to the Multicultural Devon Network Newsletter

Welcome to the third newsletter from the ESOL and Engagement team, part of Migration and Resettlement at Devon County Council. 

As you can see, we have added the words Multicultural Devon to our newsletter title. In part because we are sharing news about much more than learning the English language but also in recognition, and celebration, of the fact that Devon is multicultural society and that Devon County Council is here to support all residents in Devon, irrespective of race, religion, status or first language. 

New Migration and Resettlement Team Website

Our website has moved. You can find the new website of the Migration and Resettlement Team here. 

The new website features information about support available for those who have arrived in Devon through resettlement schemes, including Ukrainians, Afghans and Hongkongers, as well as people seeking asylum and other members of ethnically diverse communities in Devon.

In the Learning English section of the website, you can find:

• An interactive map showing where to find English language classes and/or employability support across Devon.
• Teaching and learning resources for both teachers and learners.
• Information about online English classes.
• Information about job opportunities and career pathways.

Directory of Services for Ethnically Diverse Communities (December 2023 Edition)

The December 2023 edition of Devon County Council’s directory for ethnically diverse communities is now available. Click here to download. This updated directory contains details of the many organisations and agencies, from all sectors, that offer support services for people from Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse communities in Devon, including Plymouth and Torbay. We hope that the information helps people from different cultural backgrounds living and/or working in Devon – including migrant workers, asylum seekers, refugees and students – to find the local support that they need. The directory is also intended to reach professionals, service providers and other partners looking to improve their engagement with different cultural communities or seeking specialist advice and guidance. We recognise that this directory is not exhaustive and that it will need to be updated on a regular basis. If you have any suggestions for additions and/or changes then please get in touch with our Engagement and ESOL team: ESOL@devon.gov.uk

Dates for your Diary: cultural events and activities in 2024 

Learn Devon ESOL Courses

If you want to improve your reading, writing, speaking or listening, visit our website for information about new courses.

Join one of our free ESOL courses starting in January 2024:

• Speaking & Listening for speakers of other languages (Entry Level)
• Writing for speakers of other languages
• Reading for speakers of other languages

See Learn Devon's website for more information: Learn Devon ESOL Courses

Throughout the year, there are numerous events and activities that offer opportunities to learn more about other cultures or to share information about our own, to celebrate multiculturalism, and to bring people together. Here are a few interesting dates from the first 3 months of 2024 

January 15th marks World Religion Day, an international initiative that encourages people to learn about other faiths and promotes understanding and peace between all religions.

At a time of rising antisemitism and rising islamophobia, Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27^th  is a time to remember the appalling and tragic consequences that can arise from allowing racism and prejudice to go unchallenged.  The 2024 theme Fragility of Freedom marks the 30^th anniversary of the murder of almost 1 million Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.

2024 will be the Year of the Dragon and for millions of people around the world, and for the Chinese, Hongkonger and Buddhist communities in Devon, the new year will start not on the 1^st January but on 10^th February . Closer to the time, we’ll be sharing news about opportunities to join in with local celebrations organised by Hongkonger and Chinese communities

March sees a plethora of milestones, marking key religious and cultural celebrations. Ramadan, the month of fasting in the Muslim calendar, starts on the 10^th or 11^th (depending on the moon) followed a week later, on 17^th, by the important UK cultural celebration of St Patrick’s Day. Devon’s Kurdish community will be dancing in the street in the traditional Persian New Year celebration of Newroz which falls on 20^th and a few days later on 24^th, Devon’s growing Hindu community will be throwing paint at each other to mark Holi, the Hindu festival of love and colour.

Online ESOL courses

There are many ESOL courses running across Devon, both face-to-face and online. You can search for a course on our interactive map. 

If you or someone you know is struggling to access a face-to-face English language class, we have several free online options available:

• New online intensive courses - includes 2 hour lessons, 4 days a week at beginner, intermediate or advanced levels. Contact us if you're interested.
• Online lessons - twice a week, at all levels. Contact us if you're interested.
• Learn Devon online courses - see the article above.
• For Ukrainians, STEP Ukraine - an intensive, virtual, 12-week English language and employment programme run by World Jewish Relief. Find more information and apply on their website.

We also have access to free self-directed online learning:

• Klik2Learn - a limited number of licences are available for an online learning platform. Contact us if you're interested.
• For Ukrainian and Hong Kong BNO learners, Flash Academy offers an online learning platform where you can access lessons at all levels. Further details and the application form can be found here. 

If you would like to sign up for any of our online lessons or if you need any advice on ESOL, please email us at ESOL@devon.gov.uk and we'll be happy to help you.

Library Work Clubs Open Across Devon

The Refugee Employment and Enterprise Project (REEP) in Devon is helping migrants, refugees, and speakers of other languages to secure employment aligned with their qualifications and skills. The level of employment support varies widely across the county, and poor transport links often make it difficult for migrants and refugees in more remote locations to meet with providers face-to-face. To enhance employability support countywide, Devon County Council is working in partnership with Libraries Unlimited to establish a network of weekly work clubs in libraries, with one in each district. These clubs are open to all members of the community, with specific assistance available for speakers of other languages. Services provided at the clubs include: updating CVs; interview preparation; job hunting and career progression; connections with local employers; volunteering and work experience opportunities multilingual resources; referrals to ESOL classes, training courses, and business mentoring. Currently, work clubs are operational in Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, Bideford, Tavistock, and Ivybridge, with an additional club scheduled to open in East Devon soon. Details of times and locations of each work club can be found here.

Supercharge your career with Skills Bootcamps

Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps offer a range of free courses for adults looking to kickstart a new career, upskill or change roles.

There are more than 30 courses recruiting now, from entry level to more advanced. Our Skills Bootcamps cover a wide range of expertise including digital marketing, project management, cyber security, data analytics, healthcare support and regenerative farming. There is a mix of online and in-person tutor-led training on offer.

Skills Bootcamps are designed to help support you into a new role, and learners are even guaranteed an interview with an employer at the end of the course! Providers run sessions on cv writing, presentation skills and interview practice as part of the training and this support continues for six months after the end of the course so you can feel confident to take your next steps.

Visit www.train4tomorrow.org.uk to find out more and apply today!

Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with new courses: Facebook: economy-enterprise-skills-Devon

“I wanted a change of direction and the bootcamp was a great way to learn a set of new skills in a supportive environment. I think the bootcamps are a great idea and I like the fact I had the opportunity to go on a fully funded course to learn something new. We’re really lucky to have this available to us.” – Leanne, 40, Welder

Anti-racism in Schools

Our Anti-racism in Schools initiative was launched in November with the publication of the article “Tackling Racism in Multicultural Devon” in the Governance Today Autumn 2023 Magazine. The programme is a result of feedback from families, professionals and other partners about the significant rise in covert and overt racism in Devon Schools. The feedback is further evidenced by the data collected in the BPRI (Bullying, Prejudice and Racism Incidents) reports, showing that over 50% of reports made by schools are about racism.

We are working collaboratively within Devon County Council and with other partners, including district councils, police, public health and voluntary organisations, to learn from the schools what they need to be empowered to become anti-racist. Staff from the Migration and Resettlement Team in Devon County Council will be delivering anti-racism sessions to school staff, including governors, and sharing information about other resources available locally and nationally. Research has repeatedly evidenced that racial equality and equity can only be achieved by working together.

So far, 50 schools in Devon have been invited for a face-to-face chat to discuss the issues and to book anti-racism training sessions.

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

Devon County Council remains committed to developing into an anti-racist organisation after the findings of the Race Equality Audit 2021.

Part of this commitment involves improving our expertise so that we can support anti-racist, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice. One area where we have been conscious of a need to improve our knowledge, and practice, across all DCC services, is the topic of No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

NRPF status can impact on individuals’ ability to pay the rent, to feed their family, and to access health care. The Migration Observatory recently estimated that there are now more than 2 million people in the UK who have no recourse to public funds.

Ana Barbosa, from our Migration and Resettlement team, has been attending training sessions delivered by South West Councils to understand more about our statutory duties when supporting individuals with NRPF status and will be sharing information with Adults’ and Children’s Services as the next step to ensuring practitioners are offering adequate support to individuals in this situation. If NRPF is an area of particular concern or interest to you, please feel free to get in touch at ESOL@devon.gov.uk.

Refugees Rock

The Climbing Hangar in Exeter, with the support of Refugee Support Devon, runs a monthly indoor climbing club for refugees and asylum seekers to climb with members of the local climbing community. This is free to attend for refugees, asylum seekers and volunteer climbers (boulder buddies). It’s a great opportunity to try a new activity, connect with members of the local community, have fun and make friends. It's been a great success so far and all participants have thoroughly enjoyed it. The club runs on the first Wednesday of each month, from 2 – 4 pm at the Climbing Hangar Exeter, 6 Marsh Green Road N, Marsh Barton, Exeter, EX2 8NY. You can simply turn up on the day of the session or sign up in advance using the QR code on the poster. For more information, please contact Jen at  ESOL@refugeesupportdevon.org.uk.  Please note: any children must be aged 7 or over to attend and must be accompanied by an adult, who will be responsible for their safety.

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