Refugee Jobcentre Plus customers’ experiences of English
language provision
October 2010
Overview
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) support is particularly important to refugees rebuilding
their lives in the UK. Refugees come here for protection having been forced to leave their country due to
a well-founded fear of persecution. Many do not have a choice as to their destination and so cannot
make preparations in advance, including learning English. As a result, refugees are faced with starting
afresh in a country to which they had not prepared to move. Most refugees stay in the UK, being unable
to return to their country of origin and not enjoying fuller freedom of movement until they are granted
UK citizenship. This makes learning English a priority for refugees in order to find employment, build
wider social networks and apply for UK citizenship.1
ESOL and refugee customers
This briefing provides a short introduction to the experiences of refugee customers with English
language needs (pre Entry and Entry levels). These experiences are provided through quotes from
advisers working with refugees as part of the Refugee Integration and Employment Service (RIES)
provided by Refugee Council, Refugee Action and the Refugee Education Training Advice Service
(RETAS). The paper covers:
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difficulties accessing Income Support based on Schedule 1, Paragraph 16 of the Income Support
(General) Regulation 1987
the value of being able to study ESOL for over 15 hours a week early on in a refugee’s time in
the UK
ESOL and the Employability Skills Programme
lack of ESOL provision available once a refugee has started work
We would also recommend that any review of ESOL includes provision for JCP customers with pre Entry
levels of English language. At present, there is no formal referral mechanism to pre Entry provision. As a
result, customers may end up being included in Entry level Employability Skills Programme training or
left to find alternative provision, usually in the voluntary sector.
In conclusion, we would note that competition for accredited and non accredited ESOL provision has
increased significantly since changes in funding were introduced in 2007/08. Refugees are now
competing for places with migrants and other members of settled communities. At present, a person
granted refugee status is not considered a priority for Skills Funding Agency (SFA) funded ESOL. As a
1
Naturalisation requires an applicant to be at ESOL Entry Level 3 or to have progressed one level through an ESOL with
citizenship context accredited course.
British Refugee Council, (commonly called the Refugee Council) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales,
[No 2727514] and a registered charity, [No 1014576].
Registered office: 240-250 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BB, United Kingdom
Page 1 of 3
VAT reg no: 936 519 988
result, many refugees are faced with being on waiting lists before they are able to start accredited ESOL
training.2
Difficulties accessing Income Support
Catch 22: colleges requiring evidence of IS; DWP requiring attendance on the ESOL
course(s).
The issue was that the college would not officially enrol the client on the course until they could see a
letter from JCP stating that he was in receipt of Income Support (the course would've been unaffordable
to him, had he been required to pay) and JCP would not process his claim for Income Support until they
had a letter from the college confirming that client was enrolled on an ESOL course for 15+ hours per
week. Despite phone calls/letters from myself and other organisations working with the client,
unfortunately this was never resolved, and my client was stuck in an impossible situation - with no
financial support, and no ESOL classes to help improve his English.
My client became exhausted by the whole process and became unwell. Neither the college nor JCP
would budge on the issue, and we were left with no option other than to make a claim for JSA - despite
the fact that my client's English was not yet at a level where looking for work (and being pressured to
do so) was a realistic option for him.
Income Support and English Language: length of time applying for IS
One of my clients was awarded Income Support while studying an ESOL course full time. He was
awarded this after a 5 months battle with JCP, the Benefit Delivery Centre and local JCP. He then started
doing some voluntary work in a bakery where all his colleagues were speaking English. His ESOL course
and his voluntary work helped him to improve his English and remove the language barrier in finding a
job as he started work within the twelve months of RIES support.
Value of studying ESOL for more than 15 hours per week
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A single mum who was referred to RIES in February 2009 (child about one year old). Her English
was very basic when she came to RIES but she wanted to learn and actively look for employment.
JCP adviser managed to cover the costs of childcare and secure a place on an ESOL course at
Bourneville College (entry 1, 5hrs a day – 5 days a week). Last time we spoke to her, her English
and confidence had improved a lot, and she had managed to secure a part time job and now
works weekends. She started working part time in the Autumn 2009 after 6 months on ESOL.
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A client studying ESOL full time was able to improve English and confidence quickly over time.
He was then able to progress to Level 1 with carpentry in second year (part time.) As he was
able to progress through his E2-E3 in his first year, this meant he was able to combine ESOL with
a vocational subject to help his aim towards employment far more quickly than if he had studied
at entry level part time.
2
Ofsted report in 2008 found that refugees and asylum constituted the smallest group of ESOL learners in post- compulsory
sector behind EU nationals and members of other settled communities. Ofsted (2008) ESOL in the post-compulsory learning and
skills sector: an evaluation
British Refugee Council, (commonly called the Refugee Council) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales,
[No 2727514] and a registered charity, [No 1014576].
Registered office: 240-250 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BB, United Kingdom
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VAT reg no: 936 519 988
ESOL and the Employability Skills Programme
While working as an Employment Adviser on the New Start Programme, I came across many clients that
were referred to the Employment Training Programme (ESP) for ESOL by the Job Centre. They all
expressed their disappointment with the provider due to the fact that the ESOL provision was not up
to a good standard. I remember ringing the Job Centre on many occasions on their behalf to raise this
issue. Unfortunately I was told that the training was compulsory and that they had to attend. On
many occasions, some clients were forced to abandon proper ESOL classes at college for the ESP that
has got very little to do with ESOL and more about completing application forms for jobs.
Another example was when I was working for an employment provider that delivered New Deal. As part
of my role I was also required to deliver ESOL as an element of the service which was advertised on my
programme despite the fact that I am not an ESOL tutor and don’t have any related qualifications.
Having come to England and gone through the process of learning ESOL, I am aware of the need to
provide materials suitable for different learning styles and can also put you in touch with an ESOL
Teacher who is aware of this problem.
Refugees being unable to continue with ESOL once in work
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I have had about 5 cases (single male and female Eritrean and Sudanese clients) where clients
have had to give up ESOL Entry level 2 classes because it clashed with their working
hours. Once they start work it’s difficult to find a course that accommodates working life even
though they may still be entitled to concessionary course fees. I feel this effectively keeps
people who start off in lower skills based jobs in the same place and prevents their chances of
progression. While language is key to development I guess some people will do well regardless
but that would be the exception. I think for most this ESOL–work situation disempowers people
who are already disadvantaged. An obvious suggestion would be to have ESOL courses on offer
that reflect the needs of working people. This could be done by introducing a greater range of
evening courses and weekend courses, interactive learning services for remote learning, etc.
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I have over 10 client (men and women form Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Afghanistan) where
they had to quit their ESOL classes due to the clash between the hours of work and ESOL classes.
However, there are colleges that deliver ESOL classes in the afternoons but the demand for
those classes is very high therefore they are always fully booked.
British Refugee Council, (commonly called the Refugee Council) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales,
[No 2727514] and a registered charity, [No 1014576].
Registered office: 240-250 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BB, United Kingdom
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VAT reg no: 936 519 988