Decision details

Agreed that:-

the Interim Director of Public Health be authorised to award an additional two years funding to the current grant agreement with Sandwell Consortium CIC to offer Health Literacy and continue provision of Sandwell Language Network (SLN) for the period September 2023 – August 2025.

the Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources, Cllr Bob Piper, consider and approve this proposal due a conflict of interest for the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, Cllr. Syeda Khatun.

The need to improve health literacy within our ethnic minority communities and the demand for community language learning is increasing. To prevent a gap in this provision, we are proposing to utilise funding that we have secured from the Sandwell Health and Care Partnership Board ‘Health Inequalities Funding’ and from the Public Health grant to secure the delivery of SLN for an additional 2 years (September 2023 – August 2025).

SLN aims to tackle health and economic inequalities, reduce isolation, and promote community cohesion through language learning. SLN contributes to achieving our strategic outcomes, building resilient communities in which people live well and children have the best start to life.

SLN works in partnership with our community and wider health system to build resilience in our ethnic minority communities and deliver a positive impact on health outcomes.

Health Literacy and Language Learning is a key Public Health and Sandwell Health and Care Partnership Board priority to reduce health inequalities, as such any change to the delivery of this would have a detrimental impact on our ethnic minority communities. The evidence of the increasing demand for this programme over recent years and the positive health impact on participants and ethnic minority communities demonstrates the need for this provision.

Current Adult Education Budget funding criteria excludes Sandwell communities who are ineligible to access ESOL learning offered through the College or SAFL. Therefore, the only realistic option is to continue grant funding to deliver the SLN Programme to ensure equitable access to language learning in Sandwell.