More language help for immigrants

HIGHLAND Council plans to strengthen its commitment to welcoming immigrants and their families settling into north communities by increasing English language tuition to assist their integration.

Members of the local authority’s education, culture and sport committee have agreed to apply for future European funding.

The application will be made through a community planning partnership.

If the bid is successful, the funding will continue the service provided by the community-based language assistants and support the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision managed through the Highland adult literacies partnership.

The remit of community language assistants is to help with the settling-in process of new immigrants, particularly families, who are at an early stage of learning English and may be unaware of how to access local services.

Committee chairman Bill Fernie said: “With the quite large numbers of inward migrants now residing in the area, it is essential that the council does what it can to support their integration into school, work and community life.

“Helping with their language needs is obviously very important.”