Welcome Exchange Launches Public Sector Outreach

Welcome Exchange is undertaking a new outreach programme to the public sector in a bid to help prevent growing community tensions and unemployment rises and the recession takes hold.

Our aim is to support community cohesion objectives through the language and cultural awareness training we currently provide to the public sector.

Welcome Exchange Ltd has worked with clients including the fire and rescue service, the police, local councils and other organisations to improve relations with the diverse communities they serve. This has entailed a unique approach to cultural awareness training we call ‘Parallel Learning’, as recently praised by the Audit Commission.

By way of example we recently delivered a programme specifically designed to help Lancashire Fire and Rescue establish better links with the Polish community. It featured a series of ten classes at which fire officers and members of the Polish community learnt key phrases, shared useful knowledge and developed a better mutual understanding.

For more information contact Vic Kureczko, Managing Director of Welcome Exchange, on 0845 880 2507.

Protest at troops’ homecoming highlights community divisions

The Guardian today reports “Two people were arrested for public order offences after angry scenes between anti-war protesters and bystanders during a homecoming parade for 200 soldiers returning from Iraq.” You can read the story in full here.

Community relations under pressure in Northern Ireland

The murders of two soldiers and a police officer in Northern Ireland runs the risk of driving a wedge between the two communities in Northern Ireland that have been brought closer together in recent years than at any time in living memory. The Guardian carries an interesting review of recent coverage in the region and concludes “The return to killing in Northern Ireland has brought widespread revulsion across the political divide.” You can read the article here.

Community cohesion report published

The BBC reports: “The Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo) has made a number of recommendations calling on Waltham Forest council to continue to build on projects that reduce the prospect of isolation especially within young and ethnic minority communities in the borough.”

The report titled ‘Breaking down the walls of silence’ was launched as part of the response to challenges created within the borough following a number of alleged terror plot arrests in August 2006.

Quotes about community cohesion

“If someone comes to our country and is applying for citizenship or permanent residency they have also got to accept responsibilities. You should be able to speak the English language, you should be able to understand and speak about British cultural traditions.”
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister, 13 December 2007

“It is vital that those we welcome into the UK to work and settle here play by the rules, learn English and use our language. People who want to come to the UK permanently, or as highly skilled workers are required to speak English. Now we want to go further and insist that anyone coming to Britain to work speaks English.”
Liam Byrne, Immigration Minister, 4 January 2008

“Speaking English is the greatest asset you can possess for getting involved in your community, and getting on and doing well for yourself and your family. Research has shown that 60 per cent of people believe not speaking the language is the biggest barrier to integration. Not speaking English also reduces opportunities in the labour market by 20 per cent. That is why we need to put greater emphasis on learning English as well as ensuring a commonsense approach is applied to translation.”
Hazel Blears, Communities Secretary, 4 January 2008

Social networking online over real life relationships?

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears recently said “While social networking sites can connect us with friends all across the world, we may not know our neighbours well enough to have a cup of tea with them.” This interesting article by Paul Fox looks at the implications.

Wildcat strikes over foreign workers end

The wildcat strikes are now over, reports the Guardian.