25 October 2005 saw the launch of the Police ESOL, a set of materials published by the Basic Skills Agency in partnership with South Wales Police and Cardiff City Council's Parade ESOL Service.

The Chief Constable for South Wales, Barbara Wilding, welcomed local ESOL professionals to the afternoon event, held at the Cardiff Marriott Hotel, and spoke of the importance of the work being conducted in ESOL in Wales. The Chief Constable was presented with the Basic Skills Agency sponsored Fforwm Beacon Award, awarded for partnership working on the Police ESOL project with Cardiff City Council's ESOL service.

Basic Skills Executive Director for Wales, Toni Schiavone added his thanks to the initiators of the project and PC Vince Donovan, one of the project's originators, addressed the audience on his experiences of using the materials in communities with ESOL needs.

Police ESOL aims to develop English language skills in the context of improving community safety and communications between the police and minority linguistic communities. Although initially concerned with creating links with the growing number of asylum seekers who have come to live in Wales, the approach is equally relevant to any ESOL learners particularly those in ESOL for Citizenship programmes.

Download the Chief Constable's address [PDF] 12KB