County Council Report from Cllr Larry Sanders

7 January 2013

Cllr Larry Sanders County Councillors have had £10,000 each to support useful projects. I have used mine as follows:

£5,000 to pay for tuition for residents who want to learn English (ESOL) but can't afford the high fees; and to recruit and train volunteer teachers and put them in contact with prospective students. The work is being done by Asylum Welcome and OCVA. Labour and Coalition governments have almost eliminated free tuition, leaving hundreds of people without the essential tool of the English language.
£5,000 to pay for training of 25 people with disabilities and Carers in the law relating to Community Care, Disability Rights and Disability Benefits. The goal is to enable at least some of them to be able to advise and support others. The very large cuts in services are often based on dubious interpretations of the law, which people lacking knowledge are unable to contest. The trainees are being recruited by Age UK, Mencap, Carers' Forum and Oxfordshire Unlimited.