Action for ESOL Campaign update

An open meeting of Action for ESOL was held last Thursday 7th April to discuss the next steps in the campaign.  Below is a summary of what we discussed. Note especially point 10) for details of the dates of our next national action: adult learners' week, w/b May 16th.

Please circulate, and encourage everyone everywhere to keep up the good work.

1. We need to find out what the redundancy/planning situation is in colleges and other providers and also what campaigns are happening in colleges around the country. Please send numbers of ESOL tutors under threat of redundancy to Dan Taubman at UCU: www.DTaubman@ucu.org.uk. Although UCU collects overall redundancy figures they tend to be overall figures and don’t necessarily identify by subject.

2. Equality Impact Assessment. According to John Hayes's office, this is underway but BIS is not collecting any actual evidence (i.e. it will be done as a 'desk job'). Therefore we want people to send in their own local Equality Impact Assessments, surveys etc. We will find out who to send them to and will post on this list when we have the information.

3. Early Day Motion. News of this was posted last week - please circulate via as many networks as possible to get MPs' signatures.  http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-11/1706

4. Other Parliamentary work: AoC are trying to arrange what is called an adjournment debate in the Commons. When we have a date for this we will circulate so people can contact local MPs and see if they will attend. We are also trying to get what is called a Westminster Hall Debate. These debates are chosen by backbench MPs through a ballot. If we are successful, we will circulate the date and again local MPs will need to told. We are opening up another front in Parliament with a series of questions to DWP about ESOL and the new Work Programme for the unemployed

5. Equality and Human Rights Commission. announced its intent to conduct a formal Section 31 Assessment of HM Treasury on 25 November 2010 in order to assess the extent to which HM Treasury met its obligations when considering the impact of the decisions contained in the Spending Review on protected characteristics. http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/legal-and-policy/inquiries-and-assessments/section-31-assessment-of-hm-treasury/.

6.  We aim to link Action for ESOL to wider campaigns around eligibility and adult learning.

7. We need to build up the Campaign. We would like to contact ESOL people around the country who have not yet had an active campaign locally in the college to see what they are doing and possibly gee up those who aren’t doing much. We need volunteers in each region willing to contact other ESOL people in other providers - please let us know if you can help by contacting colleges local to you who need support. 

9. Possible debate between Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson, organised by London Action for ESOL  

10. ESOL week of celebration - in Adult Learners' Week - 16th March. This can be as many days in that week that people can organise. It may be possible to work with sympathetic local managements. Possibly a march or similar in London and various other celebratory activities around the country. Local groups to organise and network

11. Petition - it was agreed to keep it open. It was suggested that we could hand in to no 10 again and again. So keep circulating it!

12. Share information with local community groups - check that they all know what is happening to ESOL and how it will affect them. Ask them to join the campaign.

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