Improving Access to Basic Skills

The ASPIRE programme aims to promote the better integration of asylum seekers in Birmingham and Solihull. It is funded through the EQUAL Community Initiative Round 2 (European Social Fund).

ASPIRE asked St Paul’s Development Agency to investigate ways of improving asylum seekers’ access to basic skills; spoken English, literacy and numeracy.

We began by informing ourselves about previous studies about the barriers faced by asylum seekers and refugees and their learning needs.

This research and its findings is summarised in section 2. It was not necessary to interview individual asylum seekers as this has already been done by other research, which is referenced in this report.

Since the previous research and consultation work has revealed some dissatisfaction among asylum seekers who have engaged with the existing courses for basic skills, we consulted with community organisations in Birmingham that work with asylum seekers, to obtain their views of the appropriateness of the courses offered by mainstream providers.

Download the Improving Access to Basic Skills report