Government gives thousands of pounds for team to help migrants in Bognor Regis

The government has given 240,000 to the expanding communities team, based at Littlehampton. Its four workers help people from other countries settle and integrate into life across the Arun and Chichester districts.

The additional money from the migration impacts fund will enable another two team members to be taken on.

This will allow the team's work to be expanded to Crawley and other places in West Sussex with new migrant communities. Stronger links will also be forged with service providers to identify the needs of the newcomers.

The team is managed by the Council for Voluntary Service Arunwide. Its chief executive, Hilary Spencer, said: "I am delighted the vital work of this team has been recognised by the government in the decision to award us this substantial sum amount of money.

"The team has not only been working with residents, but with local groups and organisations to help them develop a better understanding of the needs of these new communities and how they can better explain their services to them."

One of the team's services which had earned specific praise was its links with schools to improve communications with parents who have English as a second language, she said.

The expanding communities team was set up in May 2008. Regular drop-in and one-to-one sessions for residents have since been held. These have seen more than 1,000 queries about finance, education, jobs and healthcare being answered.

The team's current members speak Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish and French between them.

Information they gather provides a valuable insight into the changing face of the population in Arun.

District councillor Paul Dendle, who belongs to the Arun community cohesion group, said: "Services must be available to everyone. That is a basic right and this funding will enable service providers to receive the help they need to deliver this.

"Peaceful and integrated communities are crucial to our society today. We must continue to reach out to newcomers to Arun and offer them the help and support they need to settle successfully and feel welcome in our community."

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