A meeting was held on 8th Dec with UCU (Universities and Colleges Union) and NNRF (Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum) about a cut to funding for ESOL (English for speakers of other languages).

The government’s proposals for changing ESOL funding next academic year pose an extremely serious threat. They radically restrict the rights of many non-English speakers to publicly funded classes, and threaten the jobs of ESOL teachers. In their new strategy for FE, the government will restrict access to public funding to students from ‘settled communities’.

Only those students ‘actively seeking work’ and receiving JSA or the new ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) would be eligible for full fee remission. Others would be subject to so-called ‘co-funding’, which in all likelihood means an increase in course fees, including for those in low-paid jobs and on Working Tax Credit or housing benefit. In addition, asylum seekers and students on Section 4 support would no longer be eligible for publicly funded language classes.

This attack on ESOL funding would undermine integration, progression and access to decent employment. It could push provision back into the margins of voluntary teaching and under-resourced community classes.

UCU and the Refugee Forum are jointly organising meetings for teachers, students and others to discuss what action we can take to defend ESOL.

More information:

See IRR: Coalition announces cuts in ESOL funding
http://www.irr.org.uk/2010/december/ha000017.html
See NATECLA letter to the TES -
A national organising meeting has been convened by the lecturers’ union, UCU, with NATECLA, the Refugee Council and individual ESOL teachers / researchers. This will be on January 12th 4.00pm at the UCU London Office,
http://www.natecla.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_3205.pdf

Contact – Notts Save Our Services Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129772307075242

In February 2010 prisoners at Yarl’s Wood immigration prison organised a hunger strike. They demanded an end to indefinite and abusive imprisonment. Their courageous protest lasted five weeks, despite violent attacks by guards at the detention centre.

As retribution several people involved in the hunger strike were moved to prisons. Three of those targetted in this way are still behind bars: Denise McNeil, Sheree Wilson and Aminata Camara. They have been away from their families, friends and communities for too long.

Their struggle was “for everyone in detention”. We need to support those who take action on the inside. When they use prison to try to silence resistance we will fight back. At the start of a new year, let’s show them that they have our support and that the struggle for freedom goes on.

At 4pm on New Year’s Eve demonstrate outside Holloway Prison, Parkhurst Road, in solidarity with the Yarl’s Wood 3. Please invite your friends and family. All ages are welcome. Bring noise-makers. [Map]

The nearest underground station to HMP Holloway is Caledonian Road on the Piccadilly line. Buses from outside the station go to the prison.

The Yarl’s Wood 3 will also have bail hearings in the coming month. Your support is very welcome. If you would like to come to the court to show support for them contact freedenisenow@gmail.com.

For a good source of more information visit: http://www.ncadc.org.uk/campaigns/DeniseMcNeil.html

Detainees in Dover immigration prison will start a mass protest today following the death of fellow detainee Jimmy Mubenga during his forcible
deportation on a British Airways flight to Angola.

In a statement, signed by over 25 of the detainees, they demanded

“an official investigation into the death of Jimmy Mubenga during his forcice
deportation to Angola on 12 October 2010. We demand that all those responsible for this brutal crime at the UKBA, G4S and British Airways are
held responsible and punished accordingly.”

Detainees in other detention centres around the country are said to have been disturbed by the news and may well start their own protests.

Here is an article about the experiences of those that went from Nottingham to Brussels at the end of Sept/start October 2010, and lots of links to information about the camp and what took place.

No Borders Camp Brussels

At the beginning of October a group of us in Nottingham went to the Brussels No Borders camp. In many ways it was interesting and inspiring, and at the same time tiring and frustrating. Since returning to Nottingham we’ve tried to piece together our thoughts on the camp, its successes and failures and how it might be relevant to those living in Nottingham who aim to live in a world without borders.

This is the fourth year a Secondhand charity booksale by ExLibris (The Masked Booksellers) taking place in Carlton, Nottingham on Saturday September 4th 12-7pm & Sunday September 5th 12-6pm.

ExLibris run charity fundraising events several times a year. You may have seen them at the Green Festival. This time it’s in aid of Nottingham charities:Nottingham & Notts Refugee Forum Destitution Fund (supporting destitute asylum seekers)& Hayward House Cancer Care.

Details and a flyer can be found on the Sparrows’ Nest site.

The National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns 2010 conference taking place in London on Saturday 4th September is an opportunity for individuals and organisations campaigning against deportations and for migrant rights to share experiences, knowledge and expertise. The NCADC conference will take place from 10:30am to 3:30pm, with the Annual General Meeting following from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Details for both conference and AGM can be found at:
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/agm/index.html

The P r e s s A c t i o n – U K blog was set up in preparation for the No Borders “Two Days of Action Against Racist Press” (2-3 July 2010). It aims to expose racist and anti-migrant bias in mainstream media. http://pressaction.wordpress.com/
To contact the blog administrators, please email pressaction(at-)riseup.net.

Recent blogs expose articles in the Daily Mail and the Daily Express.

Come to BREAKING BORDERS #2 at The Maze, Mansfield Road, Nottingham, on Saturday 21st August 8pm – 3am. A night of eclectic music and poetry from different parts of the world! All live. Bar open till late. Money raised for Nottingham Refugee Forum Anti-Destitution Group and similar campaigns. View event poster.

FEATURING (click on Read More for details):

Osman Rasul Mohammed

The death of Osman Mohammed has come as a shock to many of the people who knew him. It is imperative that, through all of the political attention that will come from his story, we remember the human side – the wonderful person that Osman was. (please click on Read More or here for background and links to press).

Living with Illegals (50mins, Director: Sorious Samura)

Film screening & Discussion at the New Art Exchange, Nottingham in collaboration with Long Journey Home. Thursday 5th August, 7pm.

Venue: New Art Exchange, 39-41 Gregory Boulevard, Hyson Green, Nottingham, NG7 6BE

Tickets: £3/2 (concessions) – available at the Box Office on 0115 924 8630.