This report aims to provide a clearer picture of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision within the voluntary sector in Scotland and to make initial steps towards strengthening the local and national voluntary sector infrastructure for ESOL provision. Specific objectives are to investigate ESOL provision by: identifying voluntary organisations and groups that currently identify, engage, support and refer ESOL learners, and/or provide ESOL learning, and draw up a contacts database as a result; identifying voluntary organisations and groups that have the potential to...  [+] Show more

This report aims to provide a clearer picture of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision within the voluntary sector in Scotland and to make initial steps towards strengthening the local and national voluntary sector infrastructure for ESOL provision. Specific objectives are to investigate ESOL provision by: identifying voluntary organisations and groups that currently identify, engage, support and refer ESOL learners, and/or provide ESOL learning, and draw up a contacts database as a result; identifying voluntary organisations and groups that have the potential to identify, engage, support and refer ESOL learners, and/ or provide ESOL learning, and draw up a contacts database as a result; raising awareness amongst those voluntary organisations of ESOL, to stimulate their role and engagement through community learning and development (CLD) partnerships; working with those voluntary organisations and partners to identify needs and proposed action in relation to training and support, and strengthening the infrastructure and collective voices; and developing a comprehensive set of case studies based on the engagement and outreach activities. This investigation has highlighted areas of good practice and partnership work that could be shared across Scotland. The findings in this research have generated recommendations under five key headings: continued research; effective practice; resources; professional development; partnership working; and routes through learning.