Housing and Communities minister Lord Bourne has been on a fact-finding visit to east London to see how the government’s Controlling Migration fund is being spent.
He visited Bethnal Green’s Sundial Centre yesterday where English language courses are helping refugees and immigrants.
“This shows how the migration fund can be used for integration,” Lord Bourne said. “I have seen how it provides rapid support to recent arrivals and look forward to hearing more about its success.”
The council successfully bid for £500,000 from migration funding to run language and vocational classes, conversation clubs and volunteering activities.
Tower Hamlets deputy mayor Sirajul Islam, who took the minister to see an English language lesson at the centre, said afterwards: “We’re now better able to support newer communities with government funding to improve their life chances.”
The courses are aimed helping refugees and migrants build confidence, develop job skills and “feel connected” to the community.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here