Citizenship View Map
This section of the website aims to provide newcomers to Swansea with information that will help them to become more self-confident and responsible in their new communities.
For new arrivals to the UK, Citizenship suggests the Citizenship Test and the necessary knowledge to pass the test. In a more general sense Citizenship is about playing a role in whatever society you find yourself, putting something back in to society to balance what you take out.
We all have many roles in a lifetime, as children, learners, parents, friends etc. When you find yourself in a new community it's good to ask the question How can I contribute to this society & play an active part? Learning about the community is a good start. If English is not your first language then learning English is your first step, so that you can talk to people from Wales, communicate and integrate.
Click here for Citizenship materials for ESOL learners in Wales
To help you with settling into Wales, you can take a course to help you learn or improve your English; these are called English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses. These courses take into account the particular needs of those whose native language is not English. ESOL learners develop their language skills on these courses so they can:
- understand and participate in their new community
- access services
- become familiar with the laws and customs of the UK
- participate and progress in the labour market
- access further education and training
- support their children's education.
- Become UK citizens
Have a look in the Education section to find out about the English and lifeskills courses.
Once you can communicate in English, then volunteering is a good way to meet people, to practice your English, to develop your confidence & play a part in the Welsh community. See our Information section for more details.
As well as learning English & making new friends you might want to join one of the many community groups in Swansea, either to keep in touch with your own culture and other people from the same country, or just to experience the richness & variety of cultures in Swansea. Look at our map to find your local community centre.
For one the largest digital collections linked to the history of Wales, look at the Gathering the Jewels on http://www.gtj.org.uk/ that features over 30,000 images of objects, books, letters, aerial photographs and other items from museums, archives and libraries throughout Wales.
Community Groups
What is Active Citizenship?
In simple terms active citizenship is about taking part!
Citizenship can be more than putting a cross on a piece of paper in elections every few years. Individuals are capable of creating a better society through a direct and positive contribution to their communities.
Active citizenship can be defined as citizens taking opportunities to become actively involved in defining and tackling the problems of their communities and improving their quality of life. Have a look at volunteering opportunities.
SCVS organises voluntary activity throughout the City & County of Swansea. S.C.V.S. office, Voluntary Action Centre, 7 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5NF Tel: 01792 54400.
Speak to them to for more information and advice on which volunteer jobs might be suitable http://www.scvs.org.uk/volunteeringandcitizenship.html
Community Information
National Insurance numberA National Insurance (NI) number is a personal number used: to record a person's NI contributions and credited contributions as a reference number for the whole social security system. A NI number should only be given to one person and must only be used by that person. You should apply for a National Insurance number through your local Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. To find your local office go to the Jobcentre Plus website. For more information have a look on the Welcome to Norfolk Website
Joining a Trade UnionEmployees may choose whether or not they wish to join a Trade Union. Their employer may not dismiss them, select them for redundancy or otherwise discriminate against them for being a Trade Union member. The employee is also entitled to take part in official union activities. These rights apply equally if an employee chooses not to join a Trade Union. If an employee is discriminated against for Trade Union membership or nonmembership, they may take the matter to an employment tribunal regardless of the length of time they have been with the employer. An employee who is also an official of a Trade Union recognised by the employer is entitled to paid time off from work to: perform activities recognised as union activities by the employer; give or receive information from the employer regarding mass redundancies or business transfers; and receive approved training relevant to the duties of a Trade Union official. Employees who are members of a Trade Union recognised by the employer are entitled to reasonable time off, without pay, for certain union activities. To find out more about joining a Trade Union, contact: Wales TUC 2nd Floor Transport House Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9SD Tel: 029 2034 7010 Fax: 029 2022 1940. (This information has been taken from the Welsh Assembly's Welcome Pack for Migrant Workers
Citizenship Course
Those seeking British nationality must take a citizenship test. The Citizenship course aims at introducing ESOL learners to aspects of UK society and culture, as well as encouraging greater involvement in their local communities. This course combines ‘Citizenskills’ (established by the basic skills agency), Citizenship materials (established by NIACE and LLU) and A Journey to Citizenship (Official publication of the Home Office).
In order to apply for UK citizenship (naturalisation) students have a choice of two options:
OPTION ONE
- Having a working knowledge of English at or above Entry 3 level (intermediate)
- Studying the Home Office handbook
- Doing the online ‘Life in the UK Test’ (at an appropriate testing centre)
- Applying for citizenship
OPTION TWO
- Working towards Entry level 3 (intermediate or below)
- Attending an ESOL and Citizenship course
- Passing an Entry Level Skills for Life ESOL qualification & getting a letter from the college confirming ESOL has been studied in the citizenship context
- Applying for citizenship
The general aims of this course are:
- to develop communication skills;
- to present practical contexts and challenges of citizenship;
- to support students with integration and active participation within their communities.
All materials are pitched at Entry levels 2 and 3 (Adult ESOL core curriculum) as outlined by the Department for Education and Skills.
Topics covered:
- Housing
- Health
- Community
- Work
- Learning
- Government & Law
Qualifications/Certificates
At the end of the course students should:
- Receive an OCN certification in: Citizenship/Community: Services in the Community Entry 3
- Pass a City and Guild, Entry3, Skills for Life, exam. The certificate shows evidence of citizenship. We will provide students with a confirmation of achievement letter to accompany this certificate, which is essential when applying to the Home Office for naturalisation.
- Apply to sit the “Life in the UK” test at an appropriate testing centre.
Useful Websites
- Association for Citizenship Teaching: www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk Professional subject association for those involved in citizenship and education. Teaching Citizenship journal published twice a year.
- NIACE: http://www.niace.org.uk/ Browse around this site for information on improving standards through basic skills.
- www.citizenskills.co.uk Community based/ESOL information useful for teachers.
- The British Library: www.bl.uk Very useful resource showing booklists and further activities related to citizenship.
- Citizenship Foundation: http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/This excellent site contains a wealth of information on all aspects of citizenship; materials to download, resources and booklets available.
- Department for Education and Skills: www.dfes.gov.uk A government site with information and source references related to all aspects of the citizenship curriculum at Key Stage 3; lots of useful input for citizenship provision.
- Directgov: www.direct.gov.uk Up-to-date information on present issues related to citizenship and local government nationwide.
- The Guardian:http://www.guardian.co.uk/ Newspaper providing the latest world and UK news on various topics such as politics, education and society.
- Wales on the Web: www.walesontheweb.org This bilingual site provides news and information relating to Wales and all aspects of Welsh life.
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