Stockport Council is to receive £131,650 over the next 2 years from the DCLG’s Controlling Migration Fund to help ease the pressure on local services.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid announced that grants will be made available to local councils from the Controlling Migration Fund (CMF) totalling £15 million to help ease the pressures on local services.
Launched in November 2016, the fund allows local authorities in England to bid for funding totalling £100 million over 4 years from 2016 to 2017, to 2019 to 2020. This funding will supplement local authorities’ budgets of £200 billion across the 4 year period up to 2020.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said:
“Migration brings great benefits to this country but, in some places, significant population changes in a short space of time have put pressures on public services.
“This new funding will help councils rise to the challenge of reducing the impact of migration on local communities in a variety of ways – whether that’s tackling the small minority of rogue landlords who damage neighbourhoods with overcrowded properties, providing English language classes to ensure effective integration rather than reliance on translation services, or boosting the number of teaching assistants in schools to ensure all children get excellent teaching.”
In Stockport, the money will fund two projects in education and health.
The council will receive £67,250 for a project to help improve English Language proficiency in bilingual children and adults, and to provide opportunities for children and young people from different backgrounds to mix socially and build relationships through a schools linking programme.
The second project will receive £64,400 to improve awareness amongst migrant communities of how services work and help train front-line NHS staff on working with migrants to help them access services more effectively .
Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick, Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Education said:
“Bilingualism is a valuable asset for individuals and communities. This funding will help to develop the language skills of children and adults, promoting positive relationships and bringing strength and skills to Stockport.”
“Building a sense of community between people from different backgrounds is also vital. Stockport’s Schools linking programme will promote mutual trust and understanding across communities, and this funding will help us continue to make Stockport a vibrant place to live.”
Councillor Tom McGee, Stockport Councils’ Cabinet Member for Health said:
“I am really pleased that we been awarded this grant which will support migrants and health staff together to improve the health and wellbeing of migrant communities in Stockport.”