Arun

LANGUAGES

Mission statement

"Supporting migrant communities & bringing communities together."
 

About Connecting Communities

Connecting Communities is a local initiative which supports the integration of communities in Arun and Chichester, primarily focusing on Migrant Workers (Connecting Communities). The project works with local statutory and non-statutory partners to improve their understanding of the needs of the ’Connecting Communities’ and to improve access to and appropriate use of services. The team work closely with numerous organisations to help individuals reach mainstream services - through signposting, referrals and interpreting. The project also works actively to promote and encourage the uptake of ESOL classes. In addition the team monitors demographic trends and constantly evaluates any issues encountered to provide the partners with the most recent data to assist them in tailoring service provision. Furthermore, the project supports local community cohesion events and organises information and advice get-togethers. The project strives to reach large migrant communities present in Arun and Chichester to tackle misinformation, stereotyping and develop positive relations between indigenous residents and the newcomers.

In November 2009 a Community Worker was appointed to work with the Polish and other Eastern European communities in Crawley. The worker is based in Community Services at the town hall where they work in partnership with Crawley Borough Council as part of the Expanding Communities Project.
The aim of the role in Crawley is to build relationships with the local Eastern European communities in order to support integration and help them access the services they need, as well as helping organisations deliver the right services to these communities. This will include monitoring demographic trends and community mapping.

Aims of the project

• To support the improvement of access to and confidence in services for the ’Connecting Communities’.
• To improve the ability of local organisations to deliver services required by the ’Connecting Communities’ living locally.
• To improve the relationship between local residents and ’Connecting Communities’.
• To gain an increased knowledge of the lifestyles of the migrant population, and changes in their demography.
• To encourage the provision and uptake of English language courses, and to identify barriers to uptake.