Have you heard Jack Liebeck, brilliant young violinist and winner of last year’s Classical BRIT Award and soloist on the score of the recently released film, Jane Eyre?

Here’s your chance: we’re delighted to invite you to a concert at South Africa House on 24th October.

The programme features the celebrated Jack Liebeck, international violinist Victoria Sayles and future stars baritone ZhengZhong Zhou and soprano Susana Gaspar, singers from the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at Covent Garden, accompanied by Caroline Dowdle, all introduced by Sue MacGregor.

It’s a fund-raising event to support the work of the Ruth Hayman Trust in partnership with the Rainbow Fund for South Africa. Both Trusts are involved in education and share strong links with South Africa, including patrons.

The Rainbow Fund supports a homework school in a deprived Cape Town township and the Ruth Hayman Trust makes educational grants to mainly refugees in the UK who have a first language other than English.

Tickets are going fast. Book now for a highly enjoyable evening, captivating music in elegant surroundings.

We very much look forward to seeing you and your friends.

6.30 for 7.00 – 9.00pm, Monday 24 October 2011

South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP

HIGH COMMISSION SECURITY REQUESTS CLOSING DATE FOR TICKET APPLICATIONS, 19TH OCTOBER.

To book Tickets :

Download the application form (PDF)

PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO RUTH HAYMAN TRUST AND SENT TO PO BOX 17685 LONDON N6 6WD

OR
send email : events@ruthhaymantrustee.com

with the same information and pay for tickets/make a donation through BT mydonate on our website www.ruthhaymantrust.com

Ruth Hayman Trust supports the Action for ESOL campaign www.actionforesol.org and urges the Government to reconsider proposals to cut funding for essential ESOL provision.

Several current and former RHT trustees took part in the Action for ESOL event, outside Old Palace Yard opposite the Houses of Parliament on 24th March. There were workshops and a rally at which many students spoke, saying how essential these courses were in offering them the chance to learn English and then get jobs - and pay taxes. Most were able to speak in English, proving the success of their courses. Most too had learnt the essential English chants for marches against education cuts and put them to good use, with 'No ifs, no buts, No education cuts!'.

The coalition government intends to severely limit free places on ESOL courses and end funding for ESOL courses in the workplace, as well as reducing funding all round by 4.3%. The changes would mean an estimated 70% of current ESOL students being unable to study, with a corresponding closure of courses. They would have a particularly high impact on women who make up the majority of those taking the courses.

Our trustee, James Lee, second left in the picture below, was part of the deputation which presented a petition of over 17,000 signatures to No 10 Downing Street.

The case study below from City and Islington College shows how this year ESOL students have both raised funds and also benefitted from awards. But the shadow of the cuts next year means they may no longer be able to afford the ESOL classes they feel are so essential to their future in the UK.

The Trust would like to thank the class of City and Islington ESOL students who raised over £300 in a very successful Bring and Buy sale. Ruth Hayman Trust patron, Tom Jupp OBE., presented certificates to mark how their fund-raising activity contributed to the citizenship curriculum.

Tom Jupp presents certificates on behalf of the Trust

The 15 students in the class come from Congo, Lithuania (2), Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Turkey (3) Guinea Bissau, Togo, Somalia and Algeria. They all value their English class and see fluency in English as essential to contribute to British society:

"I was very depressed. Now I'm confident and looking for a job"

"I have now good confidence at my kids school; understanding the life in the UK"

"I'm not use interpreter because I can do myself"

However, a cloud hangs over their future with government cuts to ESOL provision, increased fees, and the removal of free classes for those on a range of benefits including income support and working tax credit. Three quarters of the students in a class which worked so hard to raise money for other ESOL learners, fear that they themselves will be unable to continue their studies with fees of £600 a term for a 4 hour a week class.

In January 2011 soon after the City and Islington ESOL students had so successfully raised funds, the Ruth Hayman Trust awarded grants to 8 students from City and Islington College. 5 of these were on ESOL courses, and they each received a grant to cover registration fees and also an English dictionary, kindly donated by Oxford University Press. But these ESOL students, too, may be unable to afford to learn English next year. One of them from Iran, aiming to improve her English and get a job as a hairdresser, commented:

‘If I have to pay too much I have to leave college…I don’t come’.

Ruth Hayman worked tirelessly to set up good, affordable ESOL provision and to fight against injustice. She would have been proud of the City and Islington ESOL students working so hard to raise funds for the Trust and to make a better future for themselves. In her name the Trust is committed to fighting to reverse government proposals which could lead, in the words of the NATECLA Co-Chairs, to ‘the most serious crisis for the future of ESOL that has ever been seen.’ http://www.natecla.org.uk