Save Lewisham's Refugee Supplementary Schools

Following the announcement of the emergency budget, Lewisham Council needs to make £3.295m of ‘in year’ savings from Government Grants in 2010/11 as its contribution to the £1.165bn savings required from Local Government.

These cuts include terminating the funding for supplementary schools in November 2010.

The following Lewisham refugee supplementary schools face cuts in all their funding. Many communities will be affected and individuals with no access to mainstream services will be seriously and disproportionately disadvantaged.

o Afghan Community Supplementary School
o Ardhmeria Supp School
o Association of Tamil Parishioners UK
o Downham Tamil Association
o Indo-china Refugee Group Supp. School
o Lewisham Community Action for Integration
o Lewisham Somali Supplementary School
o Lewisham Vietnamese Women’s Association
o Rainbow Club Supplementary School
o Tamil Academy of Language and Arts

These schools offer support to some of the most vulnerable young people in the borough. They provide additional English, maths, sport, language and cultural activities for children and young people from 4 to 16, as well as liaising with schools and families and enabling parents to understand UK educational systems and other public services.

Without this funding, these schools may not be able to pay the rent for premises or pay sessional teachers to support their children and young people.

If the cuts are agreed some of these schools will face closure and others be forced to drastically reduce their work.

Please sign the petition below to show support for the continuation of these vital services.