Representatives from Parent Power and Empoderando Familias met with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the launch of the government's new social cohesion action plan.
King's College London and Citizens UK worked with local South London parents to establish the two groups, helping families campaign collectively on issues affecting their children and communities. They joined representatives from universities, schools and faith organisations in Lambeth and Wandsworth to discuss the challenges facing communities across South London.
The event was held ahead of the launch of the government's national plan to build stronger, more cohesive communities. The action plan sets out ambitions and initial steps on investment in local communities, responses to hate and extremism, and the review of English language provision, including the potential role of innovation and digital delivery in supporting English language learning.
During the meeting, parents spoke to the Prime Minister about a range of pressures facing families, including poor housing conditions, rising living costs and insufficient funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
A key focus of the discussion was the importance of expanding access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programmes. These programmes provide essential training in speaking, listening, reading and writing for people whose first language is not English, helping them navigate services and participate more confidently in community life.
According to the 2021 Census for England and Wales, around 880,000 people said they could not speak English well. Despite this, English language provision in the UK has declined. English for Action reports that government funding for ESOL has been cut by more than 60 per cent over the past 13 years, leaving many adults unable to access courses because of limited availability and long waiting lists.
To help respond to this need, King's launched EmpowerESOL, a community-led programme delivered in partnership with Empoderando Familias, Citizens UK and English for Action. Through tailored English language classes, the programme helps Latin American parents develop the skills to navigate local services, support their children's education and advocate more confidently for their families. The pilot found that 89 per cent of participants expanded their vocabulary and improved their reading skills, while 84 per cent reported a better understanding of the places where they live, including public services and school systems.
Representatives from Empoderando Familias shared their experience of co-creating and participating in the programme, and spoke with the Prime Minister about the difference access to English language classes can make to families and communities.
We are families navigating systems that too often overlook us, and today our voices were heard. We raised urgent issues affecting our families: lack of adequate ESOL provision, poor housing conditions in temporary accommodation, rising living costs in London, and insufficient SEND budgets at local authority level. We also asked what concrete steps the government will take to protect social cohesion and support affected communities. Moments like this remind me why community organising matters.
Gina Rodriguez, English for Action and Empoderando Familias member
This meeting was an important opportunity to highlight the experiences of families in South London and the vital role that accessible English language classes can play in supporting participation, confidence and community cohesion. Through partnerships such as Parent Power, Empoderando Familias and EmpowerESOL, King's is proud to work alongside parents to help tackle barriers, amplify underrepresented voices and support communities to campaign for change at every level.
Michael Bennett, Associate Director of Social Mobility & Widening Participation, King's College London
Parent Power and Empoderando Familias have successfully campaigned on a range of issues, including educational inequality and low pay. Parent Power leader Miata Noah, who attended the event, introduced the Prime Minister ahead of his December address on his vision for a "Britain built for all", and spoke about the urgent need to address the pressures facing families and improve outcomes for children across the UK.
Since its creation at King's through the university's Social Mobility & Widening Participation Department, the Parent Power model has been extended nationwide by The Brilliant Club.
