Tower Hamlets Community Language Service is close to my heart. It is about the cultural identity of our diverse population in the East End – teaching heritage, culture and tradition.
This is why I have supported the campaign to Save Our Community Language Service – which is facing being cut today – for a number of years.
Having benefited from Bengali classes as a child, I have a strong and direct understanding of the service’s impact on self-esteem and confidence.
In fact, the role the service plays is widely recognised – from raising educational attainment among those whose first language is not English as well as building community cohesion. It supports young people in getting the most out of their education by providing them with an understanding of their first language and culture, including improving communication between parents and children, and the languages and cultures of others.
I have made my concerns known to the Mayor and will continue to do so.
It is no secret that our constituency is on the front-line of Tory austerity. Tower Hamlets Council has seen one of the biggest cuts to spending power per household– and this is in a borough where children suffer from the highest rates of poverty in the country.
New figures reveal that the ‘Fair Funding Review’ – a Government review of council-funding – could mean that Tower Hamlets has even more significant cuts on the horizon.
Local government and the vital public services they provide have been undermined by Tory cuts that have hit the poorest hardest – leading to the loss of key services.
I will continue to stand with you and will be raising this issue wherever and whenever I can.
Let us all unite and take the fight forward and defend our vital services!