Welcome to Leicestershire

Welcome to Leicestershire

The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Citizens' Jury, organised by Leicestershire Together in 2005, identified issues of concern to ethnic minority communities in both the County of Leicestershire and the City of Leicester. Prominent amongst these were issues around information and communication. Clearly, there are still significant obstacles to people in need of services who struggle to identify who to talk to and who does what! Nowhere is this more crucial than for people new to the area. Nationally, local authorities and other organisations have produced guides and information booklets to their respective areas, principally with economic migrant workers in mind. One of the best and most informative of these has been produced by the Cornwall Strategic Partnership. We were given permission to use a lot of their information in this document and we are tremendously grateful to them for their support and assistance.

Another important source of guidance and information has been the guide for local authorities entitled ‘Integrating New Migrants: Communicating Important Information'. This was produced by I&DeA (the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government) and includes a generic information resource intended to help anyone wishing to put together their own document. Though we had already produced our initial drafts by the time this generic work was circulated, we have, nevertheless, checked the document and included bits in it that were not originally included in our own.

We have tried to produce a document that is relevant to people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, with sources of local help and information hopefully as useful as more national orientated detail. We have tried to ensure that the information is correct and up-to-date, but things can change quite rapidly. Please point out our mistakes so that they can be rectified. Please also let us know if you would like to see other subjects included in future editions.

The document is in different sections. Part A covers general information about Leicestershire, including the strucure of local government, Laws, Money, Customs and Traditions and Belief and Religion.

Parts B to K cover key information that you will need to know including What to do in an Emergency, Work, Benefits and Benefits Advice, Housing, Health, Children and Education, Older People, Travel and Leisure. It also includes a section aimed at Asylum Seekers.

You will see that within each chapter there is a list of organisations and information with relevant contact details. Most of these include phone numbers, website and email addresses. We would be grateful, again if you could let us know of any sources of help and information that you have found useful that aren't listed so that we can add them to future editions.

The terms used in the document may also be peculiarly English in many ways, such is the difficulties in trying to explain things that are often simply taken for granted by people who were born and raised in this country. A good example may be use of the terms ‘Great Britain' and the ‘United Kingdom' (UK). Not everyone appreciates that there is a difference. Great Britain refers to England, Scotland and Wales and a number of small adjacent islands. The United Kingdom on the other hand also includes Northern Ireland. Neither includes the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, though both are dependencies of the British crown! Confused? Hopefully, this document will help you to understand more about this country - its systems, procedures, organisations, laws, services, culture and mannerisms.

In doing this, we hope that you will become familiar with your new surroundings very quickly, feel at home and comfortable and contribute to making both your own lives and those of your neighbours and local communities more enriching and fulfilling.

If we can help in any way, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

News in Brief

Interpreters

If you need an interpreter to do official business, e.g. talking to the police or someone at a local council, or asking about jobs at Jobcentre Plus, then the organisation to whom you are talking will fi nd an interpreter. It is their responsibility to fi nd some way they can help you, in your own language.

Some organisations, like Leicestershire County Council, Leicestershire Constabulary and Jobcentre Plus (as well as many others) also subscribe to the interpreting and translation service, Language Line. This links them to a qualifi ed and validated interpreter. You can then have a 3-way phone conversation with the offi cial person and an interpreter. Other organisations can arrange for an interpreter to be present if you need one. They may need a few days to fi nd someone who speaks your language.

As there are over 85 languages spoken in Leicester and more than 50 in Leicestershire, organisations are increasingly looking to provide translated written information in a variety of languages. However, the costs of translation are high and with the vast number of languages to cater for, it may not always be possible to immediately get access to information in your particular language. However, organisations can arrange for translations to be done, though this may take a little while to happen.

Map of Leicestershire

Click on map below to view an enlarged map of Leicestershire, showing the City and District boundaries, major roads and larger towns.

Part A - General Information

About Leicestershire

The County of Leicestershire is in the heart of England, in a region called the East Midlands. You can see on the map that the County surrounds the City of Leicester. Large towns in Leicestershire include Loughborough, Lutterworth, Oadby, Wigston, Hinckley and Coalville. There are many villages as well. The East Midlands region is part of England. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland make up the United Kingdom.

Leicester was an important early Roman settlement (called Ratae Corieltauvorum).

The first great Roman road in this country (Fosse Way) ran through Leicester. Fosse is still a name that has Leicester links. Fosse Road is a major thoroughfare in the City, and Leicester City Football Club were originally called Leicester Fosse.

Simon de Montfort (after whom one of Leicester's Universities is named) was Earl of Leicester in the Thirteenth Century. He led a revolt of barons against the reigning monarch, Henry III.

The Battle of Bosworth, in which King Richard III was killed and overthrown by Henry Tudor to end the Wars of the Roses, took place in 1485. The battlefi eld lies just South of the town of Market Bosworth.

Lady Jane Grey (Queen of England for just nine days in 1553) lived at Bradgate Park, six miles North West of the City of Leicester.

Almost certainly the largest character in Leicester's history was Daniel Lambert (born in Leicester in 1770). He has achieved national fame as at one stage he weighed nearly 53 stone and had a waist measurement of 9 feet!

The first public trip by train was organised by Thomas Cook (founder of the modern travel industry and whose name features in many a town and city centre in the UK), and took place between Leicester and Loughborough in 1841. Cook lived in Leicester for 50 years.

Other famous Leicestershire people include the footballers Peter Shilton and Gary Lineker, Joseph Merrick (a sufferer from Proteus Syndrome, cruelly known and made famous as ‘The Elephant Man'), the singers Engelbert Humperdinck and Mark Morrison, and the Attenborough brothers (Sir David and Sir Richard).

A much smaller version of the Statue of Liberty stood on top of the Liberty Shoe factory on Eastern Boulevard in Leicester for many years. Eventually the factory was demolished to make way for student flats and the statue has now, unfortunately, gone.

Leicestershire is famous for the now illegal country pastime of fox hunting with dogs. The hunt at Quorn in Charnwood is particularly famous. The emblem of Leicestershire County Council contains a fox and the nickname of both the City's football team and the County's cricket team is ‘the foxes'.

Diwali celebrations in Leicester are said to be the largest outside of India. The City's Caribbean Carnival is also the biggest after Notting Hill in London.

The National Space Centre is situated in Leicester. It is the UK's biggest attraction devoted to space. 

Who lives in Leicestershire

Where do they come from?

Leicester is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the UK. The last Census (held in 2001) estimated that about 36% of the City's population were from an ethnic minority background. The City Council suggests that the figure may well now be more. It is very likely that in the intervening period, that percentage figure will have increased.

The County of Leicestershire is much less diverse in terms of ethnicity. Using the 2001 Census again, a County Council research report indicated that 7.2% of the population of Leicestershire (outside the City of Leicester) were from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME communities). In terms of the 7 districts/ boroughs that make up the County area outside Leicester City, Charnwood has the highest BME population, followed by Oadby and Wigston, and then Blaby.

For the full research report from Leicestershire County Council, go to www.leics.gov.uk/index/your_council/about_leicestershire/statistics.htm and click on ‘Census 2001'.

As far as the City of Leicester is concerned, the largest ethnic minority groups are of Asian background, the majority being Indian or of Indian descent. There are smaller, but still sizeable, Black communities of African and/or Caribbean descent.

Any history of Leicester will include reference to the large migrations of people from a number of different world locations - Uganda in the 1970's, Somalia in the 1990's and Eastern European nations following the enlargement of the European Union in 2004. Added to the long-standing Irish and Gypsy Traveller communities (amongst others) and the relatively high number of asylum seekers and new refugees, the diversity of the City and surrounding areas should be clear to see.

Migrant Gateway's portal is a route to information, advice and guidance for people moving to live or work in Europe. It is for migrants and people working with them. Although it is being developed in the East of England, much of the information applies elsewhere. It is under development and information is being added all the time, initially in six languages (Czech, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and English).

It is supported by a helpline for migrants (0871 423 1334) and an advice line for employers and practitioners (0845 234 0708). The helplines are only available asfollows:

0871 423 1334 (META Hotline) is available from 8.00 am to 12 noon and 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

0845 234 0708 (Employment Advice) is available from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Migrant Gateway website address is www.migrantgateway.eu

The Political System in the UK

There are three major political parties - the Conservatives (or ‘Tories'), Labour and the Liberal Democrats (or ‘Lib Dems'). There are also a wide variety of other parties, some of them unique to the countries that make up the UK - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The people who are elected to Parliament are called Members of Parliament (MPs). Each MP represents a different area, known as a ‘constituency', and will look after the interests of everyone living there. If you have any serious problems or wish to voice your concern, you can contact your local MP.

Citizens of the UK, the Commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland (if resident in the UK) can vote in all public elections. Citizens of European Union (EU) states who are resident in the UK can vote in all elections except national parliamentary elections. These elections return the next Government and are known as ‘General Elections'. A General Election is held at intervals of not more than five years. The UK has a ‘first past the post' system rather than one of proportional representation. This means that the Government is usually formed by the party that has the most MPs. The leader of the party that wins the General Election becomes ‘Prime Minister'. The Labour Party forms the current Government. The next General Election will be held on or before 3rd June 2010. The UK is part of the European Union and members (MEPs) are elected to the European Parliament.

You can register to vote by contacting the electoral registration office at your Local Authority (see below). There is more information about your rights to vote, and about political parties and elections, at www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/
Politicalpartiesandelections/index.htm.

County, City and Borough/District Councils also have elected Members representing parts (called ‘wards') of the area they cover.

Though not in Leicestershire, there are close historical ties between Leicestershire and Rutland, its smaller neighbour to the East. Indeed, many organisations in Leicestershire do include Rutland in their organisational remits. Accordingly, we are pleased to include some information on organisations in Rutland, including Rutland County Council. If you can't find what you're seeking in relation to Rutland, we would suggest that you contact Rutland County Council directly. See chart below for contact information.  

Local Government in Leicestershire

The United Kingdom (UK) is a democracy. This means that the Government is elected by its citizens. The monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) is Head of State, but has extremely limited powers.

Leicestershire County Council is responsible for many services for the whole of Leicestershire. These include education, adult social care, children's services, transport and libraries.

The County of Leicestershire is divided into 7 areas (called ‘Districts' or ‘Boroughs') which are run by 4 Borough Councils and 3 District Councils.

These Councils are responsible for many things, including housing, standards of health in food and environment, collecting local property tax (see Council Tax), maintaining parks, cleaning streets and collecting rubbish.

The City of Leicester has a separate Council. Leicester City Council services include all of those identified for both County and Borough/District Councils.

All of these Councils are known as Local Authorities (LAs) or Local Government.  

Laws in the UK

Weapons

• You cannot carry weapons in a public place, not even for personal protection. This includes guns and knives as well as other weapons.

• Pocket knives must have a blade less than 7.5 cm (3 inches) and any weapon where the blade locks in place is not permitted, whatever the blade length.

• Pepper spray/CS gas is classed as a firearm in the UK and cannot be legally carried by members of the public.

Domestic Noise Laws

There are laws relating to the noise people make in their own homes. Local Authorities can take action if these laws are broken. Leicester City Council has a section on Domestic Noise on their website. The section includes some useful tips, some of which are:

You should also be mindful of these tips and of Noise Laws if you have to leave for work early in the morning and/or return late at night.

To look at the full list of tips and other information, go to www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council--services/ep/environmentalhealth--licensing/noise.

General UK Laws

Here are some UK laws of a general nature:

• It is illegal to have sex before you are 16, or with someone who is under 16.
• It is illegal to have sex with someone who doesn't want to have sex with you. This is called rape and is a serious crime. Your partner cannot force you to have sex with them if you don't want to, even in your own home. This is still rape.
• It is illegal both to undertake and to arrange female genital mutilation in the UK.
• It is illegal in the UK to drink and to buy alcohol if you are under 18 years of age.
• Some towns and cities in the UK have local by-laws banning the drinking of alcohol in public.
• Recent legislation gave local authorities the power to designate particular places as being alcohol-free.
• The same legislation strengthened UK law on issues such as public drunkenness and alcohol-related disorderly behaviour.
• It is illegal to take or deal in illegal drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and others. For further information on drugs & crime go to www.direct.gov.uk/en/
  YoungPeople/CrimeAndJustice
  /TypesOfCrime/DG_10027693. 
• It is against the law to drop litter.
• Vandalising property, for example by drawing graffi ti on walls, is illegal.
• It is against the law to engage in begging.
• It is illegal to try to bribe a police officer.
• From 1st July 2007, new smokefree legislation was introduced. It is now illegal to smoke in virtually all ‘enclosed' and ‘substantially enclosed' public places and work places. Anyone wanting to smoke has to go outside and use a designated area.
• It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 16 years of age.

You may find ‘TheSite' website useful as a guide to UK laws, and indeed for other practical aspects of living and working in this country. Click on www.thesite.org/. The Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) has also published a book called ‘Life in the UK: A Journey to Citizenship'. The second edition of this was published in March 2007 and is actually available from the Office of Public Sector Information bookstore by clicking on www.tsoshop.co.uk/bookstore.asp?trackid=001261&FO=1240167. It costs £9.99.

Criminal Justice System

Though obviously it is hoped that you will not come into contact with the Criminal Justice System (CJS), it is worth knowing the basics of how things work in the UK. The CJS website is probably the best way to find out what happens, who is involved and who specifically you may have to get in touch with.

The CJS is made up of bodies such as the police, the courts and the Crown Prosecution Service. In the ‘How it works' section (www.cjsonline.gov.uk/the_cjs/how_it_works/index.html), the criminal justice process is outlined in detail with information on: 

There is also a local Criminal Justice Board which has responsibilities at a local level. Information on the Leicestershire and Rutland Board can be found via the CJS website. The actual website address is: http://lcjb.cjsonline.gov.uk/Leicestershire/home_new.html

It is important to note that the CJS also provides important information on support for victims of crime. Victim Support is also an invaluable source of help and information. They have a national website (www.victimsupport.org.uk) and there are also contact points throughout Leicestershire.

Money in the UK - Banks and Building Societies

The UK has currently not entered the Euro and still has its own currency - pound sterling, made up of pounds and pence. One pound (£1) is made up of 100 pence (p). Coins are issued for £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p. There are notes for £5, £10, £20 and £50. Be aware that although the Bank of England prints notes for both England and Wales, different banks do this in both Northern Ireland and Scotland. (Also note that Scottish banks do issue both £1 notes and £100 notes in addition to those already mentioned above). There have been occasions when Scottish notes, for example, haven't been accepted in England, though this is very rare. Most banks will exchange Scottish notes for their English equivalent without any problems.

Banks

Bank accounts help you to receive money (from employment etc), keep a track of your spending and saving as well as paying bills.

You will need proof of your identity to open a bank account in the UK. This can include a valid passport, a UK driving licence or a benefits book. You will also need proof of your address which can include a gas, electricity, water, phone or Council Tax bill, or local council rent card or your tenancy agreement. Please be aware that different banks accept different identification.

There are a large number of banks in the UK. They all offer basic core banking services but often with some variations. Some services may be less common or even unique to particular banks. Having a bank account doesn't necessarily mean that you can only get money out of your account when the bank is fully open. Most banks have their own cash machines which enable you to get money at any time through the use of a bank debit card.

Some banks allow you to use this service even if you are a customer of another bank. Be aware that some convenience cash machines (at railway stations, motorway services, small shops etc) may charge you for withdrawing money.

Building Societies

Services offered by building societies are increasingly similar to those offered by banks (see previous section). In the past, building societies (as opposed to banks) tended to focus more on saving and on services such as providing mortgages. Banks focused less on these things. Now, the difference between the two is becoming less obvious.

The Local Life website (which is also a great source of information about a range of things) contains contact details on banks and building societies in the Leicester area.

Go to www.locallife.co.uk/leicester/banksbuildings3.asp.

Money in the UK - Credit Unions, Water, Gas and Electricity

Credit Unions

A Credit Union is a locally run organisation where people can save money. A Credit Union can help you save money and manage it properly, even if you cannot get a bank account. Usually you will need to produce two pieces of evidence to open an account at a Credit Union - proof of address, and a formal document that includes your signature. You can start saving from as little as £1.

Bills

There are a number of different services you need to pay for if you have your own accommodation in the UK. If you rent accommodation, find out from the landlord if any bills (gas, electricity, water, Council Tax and telephone) are included in the rent.

There are many suppliers of gas, electricity and telephone services. You may find the UK Power website a useful source of information on gas and electricity suppliers. Click on www.ukpower.co.uk/ or call 0845 009 1780. The water in the Leicestershire area is always provided by the same company - Severn Trent Water.

Water

You must pay for water in the UK. In most areas you pay a set water bill every year. This does not change, no matter how much water you use. However, some companies now offer the option of water meters so that you only pay for the water that you use. This can be more expensive if there are a lot of people living in a property. Water out of a cold tap is safe to drink in this country, unless there is a sign that says otherwise. Phone Severn Trent Water on 0800 783 4444 to report a leak or problems with the quality of the water.

Gas and electricity

Houses in the UK are usually connected to gas or electricity supplies (or both) to provide power and heat. When you move into a new property, you should contact the gas and electricity suppliers to put the bills under your name. Make sure you give them the meter reading for when you arrived, so you are not billed for what was used before you arrived. Gas and electricity is billed according to how much you use. Most houses have gas and electricity meters which the utility companies can check to see how much you have used. In some rented accommodation you may need to buy a key or card which you insert into the meter each time you need to top up the gas or electricity. You can buy this key/card and top it up at your local post office or shop.

If you smell gas, there may be a leak, phone free on 0800 807060. If the power fails or there is an electrical problem, phone free on 0800 783 8838.

Saving Water, Gas and Electricity - Council Tax, Telephone and Television License

Saving Water, Gas and electricity

The UK Government encourages people to save water and energy to help ensure the future of the environment. You can find out about greener living, how to save energy and reduce yourenergy bills by looking at the Direct.gov.uk website. Click on www.direct.gov.uk/en/environmentandgreenerliving/Greenerlivingaquick
guide/index.htm. Another useful source of information is the Energy Saving Trust. Their website address is www.energysavingtrust.org.uk. They also have a telephone number that is free to call (0800 512 012).

Council Tax

Council Tax is a local tax which pays for services such as the police, fire service and refuse collection. Council Tax applies to all homes in the UK. It is set by your Local Authority on all residential property. If you are on welfare benefits or a low income, you may be entitled to Council Tax Benefit, which will reduce the amount of Council Tax that you have to pay. There are rules about who should pay the tax. If you are living in accommodation provided by your agent or employer, and you are not staying permanently in the UK, it is unlikely that you will have to pay the tax yourself. However, if you own or rent a house, you are usually liable to pay the Council Tax and you should check this. Your Local Authority will be able to tell you whether you have to pay or not.

Telephone

Most houses in the UK have a fixed phone line (called a landline). If you do not have a line, you can contact a phone company to have one installed. You will usually have to pay for this. If you already have a phone line, you can be connected for free. Mobile phones can be useful, but it is good to consider the costs carefully and visit many mobile phone shops to get the best deal. Phoning other countries is always more expensive than phoning numbers within the UK, and phoning mobiles is usually more expensive than phoning ordinary phones. Make sure you can keep your mobile charged, even if you aren't using it, so you can get at the numbers in the memory. There are public telephone boxes in many places, where you can put money or a card in to pay for phone calls. This is usually cheaper than a mobile phone. You can also make emergency calls for free from phone boxes.

Television Licence

If you have a television (TV) in your house, you must also have a television licence. You can get a TV licence application form online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk. At the time of writing (May 2008), a TV licence costs £139.50 (colour) and £47 (black and white) per year. You can be taken to court and fined if you do not have a TV licence.

Paying your Bills, Using Credit, Debt Advice, Sending Money Home & Insurance

Paying your Bills

There are usually a number of different options available to pay your bills. Talk to the utility provider (gas, electricity etc) and look at the back of your utility bills to see which is the best option for you.

Using Credit 

You may wish to borrow money to pay for goods. There are several types of credit such as loans and credit cards. You should be given a credit agreement to read and sign. Interest rates vary and can be quite high so you should compare them before signing the agreement. Borrowing from lenders who come to your home can be expensive and even risky. You can get advice on credit and debt from Citizens Advice (www.adviceguide.org.uk) or www.banking-guide.co.uk. If you have a problem with credit or buying goods, you can get advice on consumer rights from Consumer Direct. Their website address is www.consumerdirect.org.uk and their telephone number is 08454 04 05 06).

Debt Advice 

If you have problems with debt, you can find a debt adviser through Community Legal Advice (www.clsdirect.org.uk or 0845 345 4 345), or contact the National Debtline (www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/ or 0808 808 4000). Alternatively, use the Citizens Advice network. Details are included in Chapter 6 on ‘Benefits and legal advice'.

Sending Money Home 

If you want to send money to your family outside the UK, or if you want them to send you money, you can do this safely using the Money Gram system operated by main Post Offices. Money Gram will transfer money instantly to post offices or banks in most countries around the world. You can also transfer money from a bank account here to a bank account in another country. There is a charge for these services. Do not send money in the post.

Insurance 

You can obtain insurance for virtually anything and everything. Having an insurance policy does provide compensation for accidents, loss, theft and damage to property and belongings. It also gives greater protection with regard to things such as health and finance. The most common types of insurance include the following:

• Building Insurance
• Household contents
• Travel
• Life Insurance
• Vehicle Insurance
• Private Medical Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident, sickness and unemployment cover

Though it is always well advised to seek and gain insurance cover, it may not be possible or affordable to have insurance for everything (though you have to have appropriate insurance in place for your car/vehicle, for example. You may, therefore, have to decide on priorities and whether the risk of not being insured is worth taking.

The Site website is worth a look for general information about insurance. Go to www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/money/insurance/insuranceoverview.

Pensions

You may be thinking about saving for your retirement. A State pension depends on you having paid enough National Insurance contributions. It may not be enough for your needs when you reach retirement age. Many people save for their retirement independently of their State pension through a pension's scheme. Some employers operate pension schemes. There are private pension schemes operated by financial companies. There are also stakeholder pensions which are run by the Government.

Pensions can be complicated and you should get advice from an independent financial adviser. Most cities and towns will have companies showing the independent financial adviser sign. You can find out more about pensions from www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/PensionsAndRetirement/index.
htm. Information on stakeholder pensions can be found from the Pension Service at www.thepensionservice.gov.uk. You can get advice on occupational and personal pensions from the Pensions Advisory Service at www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk.  

Customs and Traditions - General

General

As in all countries, you will find that there are many customs and traditions in the UK, and some unique to specific places. Getting to know some of these will be interesting and hopefully pleasurable for you as your new surroundings become more familiar.

As far as the UK is concerned, you will find the i-UK website (www.i-uk.com) really useful (for general purposes as well). There is a page specifically devoted to customs and traditions - just click on ‘Did you know?' which is highlighted in red on the Home Page. Alternatively, the government information site is worth a look. Click on www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/index.htm. There are some things you will find that are generally common, and therefore useful to know about. These include the following:

• People in the UK have a reputation for politeness. It is customary to greet people, particularly in the morning. All you need to say is ‘hello' or ‘good morning'. Holding doors open for people and observing queues are also seen as being not just good manners, but normal behaviour. Saying ‘please' and ‘thank you' might appear to be obvious, but you will find that doing so regularly will make people warm to you and make them more willing to talk to you and perhaps offer you help.
• On saying all this, people are used to complaining, whether it's about the weather, the fortunes of the local football team, or about services that they receive (or don't!).
• Other things that are generally frowned upon include failing to maintain your garden (i.e. not mowing your lawn if you have one), blocking someone else's driveway with your car, and urinating or spitting in public.
• Gambling is popular. Many people, for example, take part in the twice-weekly National Lottery games, and betting shops can be found in many high streets.
• Going to a public house (‘pub') is a popular social activity. However, people's drinking habits in the UK may be very different to what you may be used to. Some like to drink a lot of alcohol in a relatively short period of time - particularly on Friday or Saturday nights. This ‘binge drinking' can lead to issues of drunkenness and rowdy behaviour. You may, therefore, be more aware of police activity in town centres on weekend evenings. Also, some pubs and nightclubs employ door supervisors which are an added security measure. Providing you don't cause trouble, the police and door supervisors are there to enable you to have a safe as well as enjoyable time.
• In summer months, many British people travel to the coast to enjoy the sand and sea as well as the attractions of holiday towns. This can be for individual days, Bank Holiday weekends or for longer holidays. Popular holiday resorts for people from Leicestershire are Skegness and Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire, and Hunstanton, Cromer and Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. All these places are on the English East Coast and will take between 2 and 3 hours to travel to by car.
• In the UK people generally like animals - you can be prosecuted for cruelty to animals. Hunting or fighting animals or birds is illegal. See the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) for more information.

Customs and Traditions - Food & Christmas and Easter

Food 

There are some foods that are seen as typically British, even though their origins may not be. It is interesting to note that the national British dish is now chicken tikka masala, which is a big reflection of multiculturalism and the impact of diversity with regard to national tastes. Other more traditional foods include roast beef, fish and chips (fried potatoes), toad-in-the-hole (sausages in batter) and Shepherd's pie (minced lamb and vegetables, topped with potato). Again, there are local delicacies, and Leicestershire is particularly famous for pork pies and varieties of cheese.

As far as meals go, British people tend to have three in a day. Following breakfast in the morning, however, there are differences in how people refer to their meals. These differences tend to be regional and also to do with social class. Some people refer to ‘dinner' as their main meal, whether they have it in the middle of the day or in the evening. If the former, the third meal is commonly referred to as ‘tea' or ‘supper'. If the latter, the mid-day meal is known as ‘lunch'.

Christmas and Easter 

The i-UK (www.i-uk.com) website provides an excellent summary of customs and traditions - including the Christian religious festivals of Christmas and Easter. It mentions the sending of cards as well as the giving and receiving of presents, the focus on family gatherings and the decorating of homes, streets and offices. A decorated Christmas tree is also traditionally to be found in British homes during the festive period. There are traditional Christmas foods (mince pies, turkey, Christmas pudding and cake), as well as traditional Christmas characters and observances - Father Christmas (Santa Claus or St Nicholas) being probably the most notable example. It is important to remember that not everybody observes Christmas. Many people don't because they are followers of other faiths. However, at Christmas, it is customary for businesses to close, people to exchange gifts and for people generally to celebrate in a variety of ways.

In Leicestershire, you will find that the last three months of the year are very special for a number of faiths, containing as they do the Muslim festival of Eid, Diwali (Hindu, Sikh and Jain) and the Christmas festivities in a relatively short period of time.  

Easter is also, of course, another prominent religious occasion and the festivities take a number of traditional forms. With regard to food, the eating of fish on Good Friday is customary, as are hot-cross buns and, particularly for children, the receiving of chocolate Easter eggs.

Customs and Traditions - Calendar

Calendar

There are many significant and important days for British people during the course of the year. Many of these do relate to faith and religion. However, some of these religious occasions have also become important aspects of national identity and culture. Christmas and Easter, as previously mentioned, do involve formal holidays from work for many - but not all - people.

Many organisations and companies produce multi-faith calendars. The BBC Calendar is a good example. Leicestershire's Black and Minority Ethnic Citizens' Jury project has also produced calendars for both 2007 and 2008. This calendar combines faith, national and international observances. This is available as a computer document from Julian Harrison at Leicestershire County Council. Please get in touch if you would like a copy (0116 305 7018 or jnharrison@leics.gov.uk). A calendar will be produced for 2009.

The following is a list of selected occasions during the course of the year that reflect key aspects of British life. Bank Holidays (so-called as initially they were occasions when banks closed, traditionally affecting other businesses) are basically an extra days holiday for people in many work areas (e.g. local government, education, finance, health). However, nowadays, it is increasingly common for many shops and other leisure venues to open on Bank Holidays, and there is usually a full sports schedule on these days.

In England, Bank Holidays occur on 1st January, Good Friday and Easter Monday, and on Mondays at the beginning and end of May and at the end of August. Both Christmas Day and Boxing Day (St Stephen's Day) are also Bank Holidays.  

Belief and Religion

People enjoy freedom of worship in this country. The UK has strong historical Christian traditions. However, there are followers of many religious beliefs here today. You can find out about places of worship in your area through a public library, Yellow Pages or telephone directory.

There are contact details for various faiths listed at the end of this chapter. Some are representative organisations, whereas others also have a focus on practical delivery and assistance. Leicester, Loughborough and now also the County of Leicestershire each have a Council of Faiths (a multi-faith group that includes major faith representatives). Julian Harrison at Leicestershire County Council also has information on further organisations and places of worship.

To contact him, ring 0116 305 7018 or email jnharrison@leics.gov.uk.

Christian

There are Anglican churches (Church of England) in Leicester, every town and many villages. Many also have a Methodist Church and a few also have Baptist churches. There are Catholic Churches in Leicester and in most of the major towns. There are also Orthodox and other churches catering for particular national groups including Greeks, Poles and Ukrainians - all in Leicester. There is also a Polish Church in Melton Mowbray. The Salvation Army are also present in Leicestershire, and run a variety of community services. There are many other types of church across the City and County as well.

Hindu

Leicestershire has a large Hindu population. Accordingly, there are a great number of Hindu organisations, community venues and Temples. For specific and further information, contact the Hindu Council of Leicestershire. The Diwali Festival of Lights celebrations in the Belgrave area of the city are renowned for being the largest outside of India and attract people from all communities, not just Hindus.

Jewish

There are a number of Jewish organisations in the area, including the Leicester Progressive Synagogue and the Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation.

Muslim

There are a great number of Muslim organisations in both the City of Leicester and the County of Leicestershire. For further information, contact the Federation of Muslim Organisations. There are many places of Islamic worship, including the Leicester Central Mosque and the Loughborough Mosque. The Islamic Foundation is based at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education, to the North West of Leicester.

Sikh

The Federation of Sikh Organisations is based at the Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bhadur in East Park Road in Leicester. The Guru Nanak Gurudwara and Guru Nanak Community Centre is also a major venue for Sikh worship and community activity in the City of Leicester. 

Other Faiths

Other faiths are actively practised in Leicestershire. These include Jainism and Buddhism. Universities in Leicester and Loughborough have flourishing faith and religious societies and multi-faith networks. Such networks also exist on a geographical basis, for example in Oadby and Wigston and Charnwood as well as the City of Leicester. 

Equality Issues

There is a strong focus on equality issues as far as legislation in the UK is concerned. In recent years, laws relating to race equality have been updated and strengthened, and new laws have come in concerning Disability, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Faith and Age discrimination. All are intended to make this country a fairer and more equitable society and to strongly state that discrimination on all these grounds is both unacceptable and unlawful. Despite this, there is still further progress that needs to be made in many areas.

Brief information on equalities legislation can be found on the Improvement and Development Agency Knowledge website by clicking on www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=5145524. The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) began operating in October 2007. The CEHR has been set up to bring all the previously separate equality bodies together in a single Commission.

There are a number of local as well as national organisations that can help you if you need information, advice and support on a range of equality and discrimination issues. Details on some of these can be found at the end of the chapter.

Belief and Religion - Contact Information

Part B - Emergency Information

What to do in an emergency

You can dial 999 (the UK emergency number) or 112 (the international distress number) in this country to call the emergency services. These numbers are free to call, but for emergencies only. If you call them you will be asked which service you need: Police, Fire, Ambulance or Coastguard. You will be asked your name (which you don't have to give), where you are calling from, the location of the emergency and what has happened or is currently happening.

In an emergency (for example, fire, flood, explosion or any weather-related or security incident) obey the instructions of anyone identifi able as a member of the emergency services or any other government authority.

Emergency Services

Police

You have the same right to safety as anyone else. Police in the UK are responsible for keeping law and order. They are not part of the army, they are independent from the Government, and they do not routinely carry guns. All police in Leicestershire can call an interpreter if they need one to speak to you.

If you are arrested or charged with a crime, the police will tell you the reason for your arrest. You have the right to free legal advice from a solicitor at the police station, and the right to send a message to a friend or family member.

The power to stop and search people can help the police to detect crime and make your community safer. ‘Stop and search' is when a police offi cer stops and searches you, your clothes, your vehicle, or anything you are carrying. You can ask for the name of the offi cer who has stopped you, the police station where he/she is based, and the reason for the search. A leafl et entitled ‘Stop and Search - Know Your Rights' is available from www.apa.police.uk (the Association of Police Authorities).

You should call the police if you have a car accident in which someone is hurt, if you are the victim of a crime or a witness to a crime. You can call Leicestershire Constabulary on 0116 222 2222 for community safety and non-emergency calls. If you don't want to give your name, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 to report crimes.

Leicestershire Constabulary (which covers Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland) aims to provide the best quality service. If this has not been met and if you feel you should make a complaint about the matter, then it can be done in any of the following ways:

1. By writing to: Leicestershire Constabulary, Force Headquarters, St Johns, Enderby, Leicestershire LE19 2BX.

2. By visiting the Leicestershire Constabulary website (www.leics.police.uk) and viewing the Professional Standards page.

3. Visiting the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) website (www.ipcc.gov.uk) and viewing the Central page; or email enquiries@ipcc..gsi.gov.uk

4. Visiting any police station.

5. If you wish to remain anonymous but still want to bring matters to the attention of the Leicestershire Constabulary, then you are able to do this by ringing Crimestoppers.

Fire

If you have a fire, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Fire Service. Give them your address and your name. This is a free service.

The Fire Service provides other free services:

• They give advice and guidance on how to prevent fires and what to do if one occurs in both the home and where you work.
• They can provide and fit a smoke alarm in your home if you request a home fire safety check.
• If you have a child that plays with fire or who sets fire deliberately, the Fire Service can help. This service is both free and confidential.

The number to call for all of these free services is 0116 287 2241 or you could email infoservices@lfrs.org.

For more information, you can visit the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service website. Click on www.leicestershire-fire.gov.uk/ Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service covers Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Another useful website for information about fire prevention is called Fire Kills. Click on www.firekills.gov.uk.

Ambulance and Coastguard

Ambulance

You should call 999 or 112 and ask for the Ambulance Service if someone is ill or injured and is too ill to get to hospital by themselves.

Coastguard

Even though Leicestershire is inland, you may need the services of the Coastguard if you are working on the coast or visiting coastal areas. You should call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard for incidents on or near the coast, in the sea, or on boats. They can rescue people who have fallen down cliffs or are cut off by the tide.

Gas, Water and Electricity Emergencies

For information on gas, water and electricity emergencies, click here

(In Case of an Emergency) - ICE

If you carry a mobile phone, make sure you store an emergency contact under ICE. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency, and can be used by ambulance staff to find out information about you if you are injured and you can't speak to them. If you can, try to make sure that the person you choose can speak English.

Missing Persons

If someone you know has gone missing, you should report it to the police, who can investigate and try to find the missing person. Missing People is the national charity that supports people who are missing someone. They are also a contact point for people who have run away. You can phone a 24-hour free and confidential helpline on 0500 700 700 or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk

Hate Crime

If someone is attacked, or shouted at, or property is damaged because of that person's race, religion/belief, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation, this is a hate incident. It is important that you report this. It is not acceptable in this country, and the police will help to find and prosecute people who carry out hate crimes. There are a number of organisations who will be able to tell you more about hate incidents. There are contact details for such organisations listed at the end of this chapter. Local Racial Equality Council's deal with racial matters. Leicestershire has two Racial Equality Councils - The Race Equality Centre in Leicester and Charnwood Racial Equality Council.

It is important that you know exactly what a hate crime actually is, not only so that you can report it if you are unfortunate enough to be a victim, but also so that you don't commit such a crime yourself, whether inadvertently or not.

The Leicestershire Hate Incident Monitoring Project (overseen by a partnership of organisations and based at Leicestershire County Council) is a good source of information. It states that a hate incident may be physical, verbal or written and can take many forms. It lists a number of examples:

• Physical attack - such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti
• Threat of attack - including offensive letters, abusive or obscene phone calls Verbal abuse or insults
• Offensive leaflets or posters, hate mail, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes
• Harassment, bullying and victimisation. Harassment is defined as ‘unwanted behaviour that a person finds intimidating, upsetting, embarrassing, humiliating or offensive.'

You can report any hate incident and seek advice through the Leicestershire Hate Incident Monitoring Project by calling 0116 305 8263 or using the online form (www.leics.gov.uk/index/reporthate.htm). Information leaflets are available in English, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Polish and Punjabi.

If you become a victim of any crime please report this to the police. The matter will then be investigated, particularly in cases of victimisation where you may have been perceived to be a member of a minority group. As well as patrol officers, each neighbourhood has a designated police officer. They are able to offer you any help or advice you need.

To find out the name of your local police officer (called a neighbourhood beat manager), visit www.leics.police.uk or contact Leicestershire Constabulary. Do not take the law into your own hands (in other words, do not do something illegal in order to punish someone) - you may end up getting yourself into trouble or hurt.

If you do not wish to report a hate crime directly to the police, you could contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Domestic Violence and Abuse

If someone is abused or attacked by a relative, or partner or ex-partner, this is called domestic abuse or domestic violence. This is not acceptable in this country. Anyone who feels under threat, or is abused verbally, physically, sexually, emotionally or psychologically in their own home, can contact one of the domestic violence and abuse organisations listed. They will be able to give information and emotional support to people suffering domestic abuse. Some can also give counselling. In an emergency always call 999 or 112.

There are several Women's Refuges in Leicester and Leicestershire which have places for women to go to if they have to leave home because of domestic abuse. They can bring their children with them if they need to. Local Authorities and the Adult Social Care Service can also provide houses for people who have left home because of domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse can affect men and people in same-sex relationships, too. There is a national organisation called Broken Rainbow who can assist anyone affected by domestic violence and abuse in samesex relationships. Any victim can contact Victim Support. For any cases of domestic abuse, please contact the police. 

Part C - Work

Permission to Work in the UK - European Union (EU)

If you are coming from a member state of the European Union, to work in the UK you must have a full EU/EEA passport or National Identity card of one of the members States of the EU/EEA or Switzerland. Workers from the Accession 8 countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) can access the UK labour market via the Worker Registration Scheme.

This applies if:

• You have started a new job since 1st May 2004
• You were working in the UK before 1st May 2004 without authorisation.
•  You are working on a short-term or temporary basis
•  You are a student who is also working.

Application and further information can be obtained from the Home Office Border and Immigration Agency. Once you have been working legally in the UK for 12 months, without interruption, you will acquire full free movement rights and will be able to obtain an EEA residence permit confirming your status.

A useful source of information about Nationality and Citizenship is the Direct.gov.uk website.
Please click on www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/
DG_10015894

Bulgaria and Romania

There are special procedures and restrictions in place for people from Bulgaria and Romania wanting to work in the UK. The Home Office Border and Immigration Agency has produced a booklet giving full information on these measures. They have also produced information in both languages.

Information, including the leaflet is available from the Agency and can be found on their website by clicking on www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/bulgariaromania/. It is important that you are aware of and understand this information if you are Bulgarian or Romanian.

Coming to the UK - non-European Union (EU) nationals

The Home Office Border and Immigration Agency website gives comprehensive information on rules and procedures for coming to the UK. Click on www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/
newcomerstouk/.  There is also information on visiting the UK (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
visitingtheuk/). With regard to entering the UK, you will note that "there are four types of entry clearance which are issued for granting permission for the holder to travel to or enter the United Kingdom" - one of these being a visa, which is required if you are coming from a country listed in the Immigration Rules. A full list of relevant countries can be found on the website. Click on: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/
appendix1/.

The Border and Immigration Agency's website has a useful and important section entitled ‘Working in the UK' (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/) . This  provides information for Foreign Nationals (from all countries - EU and otherwise) on the various routes available to enable them to legally work in the UK.

It is important to note that as a Foreign National, though you may now be in the UK, that doesn't necessarily mean that you are legally allowed to work. You may also only be allowed to stay in the UK for a limited period of time. You do need to check your status. Contact the Border and Immigration Agency if you are in any way unsure. The ‘Working in the UK' section is fairly easy to use and full contact details are available should you need to speak to the Agency directly.

Immigration status and how it affects your rights can be complicated and you may need to talk to an independent immigration adviser. You can find your nearest immigration adviser by phoning Community Legal Advice or visiting their website (www.clsdirect.org.uk). To telephone them is free and the number is 0845 345 4 345. Community Legal Advice offer free, confidential and independent legal advice for people living in England and Wales.

Help to Find Work

If you are looking for a job in Leicestershire, many organisations list their job vacancies in the local papers (for example, the Leicester Mercury). Some job vacancies are also listed on the internet.

Jobcentre Plus is an organisation that can help you to look for a job. As well as having details of job vacancies, they can advise on looking for work, applying for jobs, preparing for job interviews, safe job searching, and starting your own business. They can also tell you how to claim State benefits. Jobcentre Plus has offices throughout the UK where computerised touch-screen terminals called jobpoints enable you to find information about jobs locally and nationally. You do not have to be unemployed to use this service which is provided free of charge. In Leicester and Leicestershire you can find Jobcentre Plus offices in Leicester, Coalville, Hinckley, Loughborough, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray. There is also a Jobcentre Plus office in Oakham (Rutland). Opening hours can vary. See the list on PAGE 39 »» for details of your nearest Jobcentre Plus office or visit the websites: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk or www.dwp.gov.uk.

There are organisations that specialise in finding employment for people from European or other countries, including specific European countries. Euro Joblink and EURES, the European Employment Services may be able to help. EURES is a partnership between all the employment services in the EEA to support free movement of workers. The EURES system circulates job vacancies and gives access to up-to-date information in each EEA Member State via a computer network. EEA internationals looking for employment may register their CV's (Curriculum Vitae - a document listing your personal history, including qualifications, previous employment etc) on the website. Registered employers then use the service to search for suitable applicants who they are then able to contact directly.

In recent years, Polish and Eastern European recruitment agencies have become very active in meeting the employment needs of migrant workers from these countries and UK businesses wishing to employ them. A number of such agencies are included in the contact list at the end of this chapter.

Labour Providers

Labour providers supply workers directly to employers. They are sometimes called gangmasters. Labour providers must be licensed and are subject to strict standards.

If you think you are being treated unfairly by a labour provider, you can contact the Gangmasters' Licensing Authority (GLA) or contact Community Legal Advice. The GLA website address is www.gla.gov. and their telephone number is 0845 602 5020. You can actually check who is a licensed labour provider by doing auk search on the GLA Public Register. At the time of writing (April 2008), there are 17 licensed labour providers in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.

Tips on Applying for Jobs

Employers will state how they want people to apply for jobs. Usually this will be either by sending in your Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Résumé with a covering letter, or by completing an application form.

The next stage is usually a job interview at the workplace. You will be interviewed by at least one or two people. You should expect to provide proof of your right to work in the UK. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions of your prospective employer. Usually these will be around working conditions and career advancement opportunities, but don't be afraid to ask about other things that are relevant and may be of concern to you.

How you present yourself at the job application and interview stages is important and may be different from the way things are done in your home country.

You can get some good advice on interview skills from Jobcentre Plus or by visiting the Direct.gov.uk website. Click on www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/LookingForWork/DG_10029993.

Self Employment

You may want to start your own business. This is known as being self-employed. It is a good idea to get advice before you start your business. You may be able to get financial or other help to start up. Business Link gives practical advice for businesses including information on starting up and grants, and online tools to help you. Their website address is www.businesslink.gov.uk and their telephone number is 0845 600 9 006.

Starting a business may affect your immigration status, so you should talk to an independent immigration adviser before you do so. You can find your nearest immigration advice provider through Community Legal Advice.

Your Rights at Work

Contract of Employment
When you start work you should be given an employment contract. The terms and conditions of employment need to be agreed between you and your employer. You should make sure you fully understand what is written in the contract before you sign it. It should include details of how, and how often, you will be paid, and the conditions of your employment, including disciplinary procedures. Your employer could pay your wages straight into your bank account, or give them to you as a cheque or cash.

You can find out more about your employment rights on www.berr.gov.uk/employment/index.html or www.direct..gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/index.htm

Taxation and National Insurance (NI) Contributions

Most people in the UK pay Income Tax and National Insurance (NI). Income tax is based on how much you earn. National Insurance money is paid to the Government and contributes to State pensions, welfare benefits and the National Health Service (NHS).

Income Tax and National Insurance contributions are taken directly from your pay as soon as you earn more than the lower earnings limit. Anyone who is physically present in Britain for six months or more in any tax year is regarded as resident for tax purposes. You should receive a pay slip from your employer which shows details of all the deductions that have been made. Everyone needs a National Insurance Number before they can start work or claim any benefits. Your employer should help you to get a National Insurance Number, or call 0845 600 0643 (and for the hard of hearing, or those with speech difficulties 0845 600 0644).

If you are self-employed it is up to you to pay income tax and NI direct to the UK Government department.

Working Conditions

Most workers have a basic 37 or 40 hour working week with a minimum of 4 weeks annual holiday entitlement. Your employer should give you rest breaks and put limits on your working hours. (Some jobs are not covered by these specific rules, but in general you must be given rest breaks).

You must have at least a 20 minute break if your shift is longer than 6 hours.

You must have 11 consecutive hours not at work during a 24 hour period.

You should not have to work more than 48 hours in a week, on average.

You should get at least 1 day off in a week, or 2 days off in every 2 weeks.

You should receive paid holiday leave. This should be 4 weeks per year, building up from your first day at work. This may include Bank Holidays such as Christmas (in December), but some employers give these as extras.

Your contract of employment should state how much you will be paid if you are off work because you are ill. This is known as sick pay. The minimum amount you are entitled to is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you are away from work for four consecutive days or more. Your employer may pay you more than this.

Some people are employed on a contract basis (also called ‘piece work') - they are paid for the amount of work they do, not employed for a certain number of hours per week. The rules are different for this kind of work.

Full details of working time regulations can be found on www.berr.gov.uk/employment/employment-legislation/working-time-regs/index.html.

National Minimum Wage

There is a law in the UK that says that your employer should pay you no less than a certain amount for the work you do. This amount is called the National Minimum Wage. There is a National Minimum Wage helpline for more information but these are the figures at the moment of writing.

For people doing agricultural work, there are different minimum wages. These are worked out for people of different ages, and people doing different types of work. The Grade 1 pay rate (the lowest) for workers over compulsory school age is £5.52 per hour. For first year apprentices, the rate is £3.46 per hour. These figures were re-set in October 2007.

For people who do non-agricultural work, this is £5.52 per hour for people aged over 22, £4.60 for people aged 18-21 and £3.40 for 16 and 17 year olds. (These figures were re-set in October 2007).

If you are paid by piece work (a certain amount for every item you finish), employers must make a fair assessment of how many pieces an average worker can complete in an hour, and pay them fairly for it. The assessment and piece rate must allow workers to earn the National Minimum Wage.

Health and Safety at Work

Your employer has a duty to make sure that you are safe at work. They must make sure you have the right safety clothing, and are properly protected. They must also ensure that your place of work is not a fire risk. There must be signs to tell you where to go if there is a fire, and there should be fire extinguishers near by. You should be given proper instruction on how to use any equipment.

Childcare

Children are legally protected and it is your responsibility to ensure that your children are safe and well cared for. See the section on ‘Looking After Children'. Choosing good quality childcare, if you need to, is therefore very important.

Every child aged 3 or 4 is entitled to free childcare from the start of term after their 3rd birthday. This used to be only for up to 5 sessions of childcare a week, for 33 weeks a year, in term time. A session is 2.5 hours. However, in April 2008 this Nursery Education entitlement increased to 15 hours per week and can be taken flexibly to suit parents needs.

For more information contact the Family Information Service (details below and on PAGE 82 »»).

The County Council's Children and Young People's Service provides a Family Information Service (FIS). This service is friendly, confidential and impartial. Its aim is to help parents and families to find information on all types of issues concerning childcare and children, including details of:

• Childcare providers
• Help with childcare costs
• Toy libraries
• Family support services
• Health
• Leisure activities
• Parenting support

The number for the FIS in Leicestershire is 0116 3056545. If you live in Leicester City, the Children's Information Service (CIS) number is 0800 952 5678. If you live in Rutland, the Children's Information Service (CIS) number is 01572 722577 (the main number for Rutland County Council).

You can also find out about childcare from the national ChildcareLink.

Children at Work

There are restrictions on the hours and types of paid work which children aged 13-16 can undertake. The minimum age for employment is 13. The rules apply to children from 13 up to school leaving age; children are still of compulsory school age until the last Friday in June in the school year in which they become 16. The hours and types of work allowable and not allowable are contained in a leaflet available from Leicestershire County Council (telephone 0116 305 6587 or 0116 305 6597). The employer must apply for an employment permit from the Local Authority, which must be signed by the employer and the child's parent or guardian.

Trade Unions

Trade unions are associations of workers which exist to support workers and protect their rights. British trade unions will represent migrant workers and campaign on their behalf. There are many different unions covering all occupations and industries. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) represents all the Trades Unions, and they can give advice on which union to join. Workers join unions so they can voice their opinion collectively and get support if they have a problem at work. It may be too late to join after you run into trouble.

Unions can help provide learning and skills training at work. This can include English courses. Contact Unionlearn with the Midlands TUC (who are based in Birmingham, but have an outreach office in Leicester). Unions charge a weekly subscription by direct debit. The amount varies and there can be discounts for new entrants or the low paid. You can expect to pay around £2 a week.

Different Unions for people who work in specific types of job 

There are also a number of trades unions for teachers, including the National Union of Teachers (NUT).

Membership of Professional Organisations

If you are a skilled worker, or belonged to a profession in your home country, you may be able to join a professional organisation in this country. There are many of these, and you should ask either your own country's organisation, or enquire through your employer about which organisations might be appropriate.

Your Employer should not:

• Keep your passport. They can take a copy of it for their records, but they must give it back to you.
• Take more than £30.10 per week of your pay for accommodation they provide for you. This amount was set in October 2007, and may go up slightly each year. The daily rate equates to £4.15 (set in October 2006). Please contact the National Minimum Wage helpline for the latest figure.
• Take money from your pay for your food.

You should also know that there is not a limit on what an employer can take from your pay for transport. Be careful that you are not being exploited.

If you work for an agency that is treating you badly and you think it might be breaching the law you can report it to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate that regulates agencies.

Changing Jobs

If you change jobs, you will need to renew your registration with the Worker Registration Scheme but you will not have to make any further payment. You can find out more from the Home Office.

Voluntary and Community Work

If you want to do some voluntary work in your local community, there are a number of organisations that can help. Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) or Voluntary Actions exist in each of the boroughs/ districts of Leicestershire. Voluntary Action Leicester (VAL) is situated in the heart of the city of Leicester. The Rural Community Council (Leicestershire and Rutland) focuses on rural communities and improving the life of people living and working in rural areas. Organisations such as these can link members of the public to groups that are of interest to them.

Volunteering is a good way of making new friends, improving the standard of your spoken and written English and keeping you involved in areas of work or interest that you may have had before coming to the UK. It is also, of course, a great method of giving something back to the community and helping people around you. 

Part D - Benefits and legal advice

Benefits

If you have just entered the UK, the benefits you can get will depend on one or more of the following:

• National Insurance contributions
• Whether you are living or usually live in Great Britain
• Why you have come or returned to Great Britain
• Whether your entry to Great Britain is subject to limitations

If you have not lived and worked in the UK, you will not normally have paid National Insurance contributions here, and so will not be entitled to contributory benefits. However there may be circumstances where you may be able to get some benefits.

You can get details on the website www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/workage/wa_visit_or_living_abroad.asp. For further information on benefits go to www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/index.htm.

The Department for Work and Pensions also produces a leaflet entitled ‘Coming from abroad and getting your benefits'. This is available in ten languages (Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Gujarati, Punjabi, Somali, Urdu, Vietnamese and Welsh) and is available at www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/jcp/stellent/groups/jcp/documents/
websitecontent/dev_012318.pdf.

Types of Benefits

Types of Benefits in the UK include the following:

• Child Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Disabled Person's Tax Credits
• Disability Living Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Working Families Tax Credits

Transferring Benefits

In order to claim any benefits in the UK that you qualified for in another country in the EU/EEA, you will need to take certificate E301 or E303 (from the social security office in your own country) to your local Jobcentre Plus Office to make a claim for benefits. This includes benefits because of unemployment, illness, invalidity and maternity.

Free Advice

You can get free advice about your rights, and many other subjects from Citizen Advice Bureaux.

There are Bureaux or Outreach Offices in a variety of locations - Blaby, Braunstone Town, Broughton Astley, Coalville (North West Leicestershire), Enderby, Glenfield, Hinckley, Leicester, Loughborough (Charnwood), Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Rutland, Shepshed, Stoney Stanton, Syston and Wigston. They also have a helpful website www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ (and www.adviceguide.org.uk/). Community Legal Advice is an alternative source of helpful advice as they can help you find a benefits adviser. Visit their website (www.clsdirect.org.uk) or telephone them on 0845 345 4 345. 

Part E - Housing

Housing

If you are working in Leicestershire for an agency, you may already have somewhere to live provided by that agency. There are rules which say how many people should live in certain types of property, to prevent overcrowding and fire hazards and to make sure that the property is a good enough standard so as not to affect your health. If you want to know whether your home meets these standards, or think it is not safe, contact the Environmental Health Section at your local District or Borough Council (Leicester City Council if you live in the city). They will give you free advice. Your landlord does not need to know that you have contacted them.

There are also rules which say how much money an employer may deduct from your wages to pay for housing, if they are providing it for you. The chapter on ‘Working in Leicestershire' will tell you more about this.

Finding a Place to Live

If you have to find your own place to live, you will probably need to look for privately rented housing. It is unlikely that you would get any accommodation from the Borough or District Councils but they would be able to provide you with advice and support to help you to find a place to live.

Housing in Leicestershire can be very expensive, both to buy and to rent, though it does depend on the area. There is also a wide gap in price ranges for properties in the city of Leicester, again depending on the area.

You should look in the local papers for houses to rent, and register with letting agencies. Some of the Borough or District Councils may be able to give you lists of agencies which rent houses. Be careful whether you rent a "furnished" or "unfurnished" house. Unfurnished will be cheaper, but you will have to find any furniture you need. Tenancy agreements also vary in terms of length but many are for a period of 6 months.

Housing Advice

For free advice on housing and housing problems, you can contact the local District or Borough Council (see «« PAGE 13) for the relevant area. (Or Leicester City Council if you live or wish to live in the city). Shelter and Citizens Advice Bureaux (see Chapter 6) can also give free advice. Shelter has a local office on Welford Road in Leicester - the Leicestershire Shelter Housing Aid and Research Project (SHARP).

You should have some type of agreement between you (the tenant) and the person who owns the house you live in (known as a landlord). This might be called a tenancy agreement or contract. They may give you a rent book to keep a list of when you have paid them rent. You will usually have to pay money to the landlord (known as a deposit or bond) as well as some rent in advance. This deposit should be returned to you at the end of the tenancy.

Refuse Collection and Recycling

Refuse (the rubbish you need to throw away) and recycling (items such as paper, glass and cans) are collected by Borough/ District Councils throughout Leicestershire and also by Leicester City Council if you live in the City area.

The arrangements for collections for both refuse and recycling vary in each area. For example, some Councils collect waste each week whilst others collect each fortnight.

Each Council has specific containers and bins for the different items they collect, so it is very important to contact your Local Authority or check their website to find out how their systems work.

To get information about Districts within Leicestershire and the County Council, please click on: www.leics.gov.uk/
new_servicepagestheme.htm?
initial=&pid=533&theme=T4

For details about the Leicester City scheme, please click on: www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council--services/cl/waste-and-cleansing/domesticwaste-collection

For information on services in Rutland, please click on: www.rutland.gov.uk/pp/service/directory.asp?id=5407&Tree=5254,5391&DetailID=2598

Recycling Bring Banks

In addition to the recycling collections operated by the District/Borough Councils, there are recycling bring banks situated in many places such as in local car parks and shopping centres. Again, a list of where your nearest bring banks are located is available from your local Council. Alternatively, click on: www.leics.gov.uk/new_servicepagestheme.htm?initial=&pid=534&theme=T4

Household Waste Recycling Sites. There are 14 household waste recycling sites located around Leicestershire where you can dispose of surplus waste. At each of these sites you will also find recycling facilities and facilities for disposing of larger recyclable items such as cookers and fridges.

Household Waste Sites can be found in Barwell, Bottesford, Coalville, Kibworth, Loughborough, Lount, Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Oadby, Shepshed, Sileby, Somerby and Whetstone.

There are two Community Recycling Centres in Leicester itself - in Bridge Road (off Spence Street) and in Islington Street (Freemens Common).

Please click on this link to find details of the sites within Leicestershire: www.leics.gov.uk/index/environment/waste/recycling_household_waste_
sites.htm#map_recycling_household_waste_sites

Please click on this link to find details of the sites within Leicester City: www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council--services/cl/waste-and-cleansing/community-recycling-centres

Please click on this link to find details of recycling sites in Rutland: www.rutland.gov.uk/pp/service/directory.aspid=5407&Tree=5254,5391
&DetailID=2605

Campaigns and Events

The County and Borough/District Councils are working to promote more sustainable waste management practices, running regular events, competitions and campaigns. For more information click on: www.leics.gov.uk/index/environment/waste/recycling_waste_reduction_
schemes.htm

Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire
Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire is an independent charity that offers advice and practical help to make communities more sustainable, by focusing on things such as recycling and renewable energy.

Contacts

Part F - Health

Health

Public healthcare in Leicestershire is provided by the National Health Service (NHS). There are four different organisations (called ‘NHS Trusts') which form the NHS in Leicestershire. There is also a strategic Health Authority for the East Midlands.

In addition, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) provide information, advice and support for patients, families and carers. They also provide information on the NHS and other health-related services and listen to concerns, comments and suggestions as well as answering queries.

Information on PALS in Leicestershire can be found on http://www.leics.gov.uk/new_servicepagestheme.htm?initial=&pid=Other003&theme=T7

NHS Direct
0845 4647   

This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are worried about your health or the health of a family member, qualified nurses can give free and confidential advice and information. NHS Direct also has lists of doctors, dentists and hospitals in your area. NHS Direct uses Language Line, the telephone interpreting service. Ask for your language when the operator answers.

Emergency Treatment

You can get free emergency treatment from the Accident and Emergency (also called A & E or Casualty) department or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at a hospital. You do not need to be registered with a doctor to use these services at hospitals. A & E's are generally for more serious accidents than Minor Injury Units. There is an A & E department at Leicester Royal Infirmary. There are MIU's in most hospitals.

In Leicester and Leicestershire, there are major hospitals in Leicester and smaller hospitals in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Coalville, Hinckley, Loughborough, Lutterworth, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray. The Rutland Memorial Hospital is in Oakham.

For information on hospitals, go to the main NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk). You can do a search at the top of the page (left hand side) for your nearest hospital. You can also compare hospital treatment and facilities by clicking on the ‘Compare Hospitals' item.

There are also private (fee-paying) hospitals in Leicester.

If someone is too ill or badly hurt to get to hospital by themselves, you can call for an ambulance. Dial 999 or 112 free of charge and ask for ‘ambulance'. You will be asked to give the telephone number you are ringing from and explain what is wrong.

If your illness or condition does not require emergency treatment, you should go to see a Doctor. You can also call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Doctors, Pharmacists, Dentists, Opticians

You can register with a local doctor or GP (General Practitioner) near to where you live. GPs work in offices known as surgeries. GPs can give advice and treatment for minor illnesses and diseases, and also many other things such as mental illness, vaccinations, pregnancy and advice about drug and alcohol misuse. GP surgeries are managed by the two Primary Care Trusts (PCT) - Leicester City PCT and Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT. They will be able to tell you about GPs in your local area. You can get a list of GPs in your area from the Patient Registration Department, which covers both City and County (telephone 0116 295 7887). They can also assist you to register with a GP if you are having difficulty.

You are expected to keep doctors appointments unless you tell the doctor's surgery that you cannot attend. Appointments are free and confidential. The GP will diagnose (tell you what is wrong) your health problem and may refer you to other health services.

If you need to see a GP at night or at weekends, telephone the surgery. There will be a recorded message telling you how to contact a doctor.

In an emergency, telephone 999 or 112 and ask for an ambulance. You can also seek advice from NHS Direct. 

Pharmacists 

Pharmacists (who work in pharmacies, also known as chemists) may also be able to advise you about common health problems and medication. You can find details of your local pharmacy in the phone book. If a doctor gives you a prescription for medicines, you will need to take the prescription to a pharmacist. You may have to pay to get the medicine, but some people are exempt from charges and you should ask about this when you present the prescription. You may be able to get medicines at a pharmacy without a prescription (known as ‘over the counter medicines'), where you will need to pay for them. 

Dentists 

Some dentists in Leicestershire accept NHS patients, although this treatment is not always free. Information on NHS dentists can be obtained from either of the two Primary Care Trusts (depending on where you live).

For dental emergencies, contact the Leicestershire NHS Dental Access Centre in Nelson Street in Leicester. The phone number is 0116 295 1278. If you have been resident in the UK for more than 6 months, you are entitled to NHS dental care, if you can find a dentist who will register you as a new NHS patient.

Of course, there is also the option of going privately for your dental health, though this can be costly. Information can be found in the telephone directory, Yellow Pages or by doing a search on the Internet.

Opticians

Opticians can test your eyesight and prescribe spectacles or contact lenses. You will have to pay for the eye test and spectacles or lenses, although you may be eligible for treatment at a reduced cost. Ask the optician about this.

You can find an optician through Yellow Pages (either the phone book or online on www.yell.co.uk). Alternatively look on the Access Place website link for opticians in Leicester and Leicestershire(www.accessplace.com/optician/leicestershire/
leicester.htm). This link includes opticians in Oakham in Rutland.

Interpreters Available

If you need an interpreter, it is the responsibility of your hospital, GP surgery, dentist or optician to arrange for one, at no charge to you. It is important that you have an interpreter for medical matters, so that the medical staff can understand you, and give you the right treatment. It is best if family members are not used to interpret in health matters, as you may not wish to discuss sensitive issues in front of a relative.

Health Information in Community Languages

There are a number of useful websites that contain health information in a number of different languages. These include the following:

• Equip (NHS sponsored website) - www.equip.nhs.uk/index.html#top
• MyPIL Resource (Health - online multilingual patient resource) - www.mypil.info/  
• Sounds Healthy - www.surgerydoor.co.uk/3cities/index_audio.html

NHS and Hospitals - Contact information

Adult Social Care Service

The Adult Social Care Service is an important part of Leicestershire County Council. They play an essential role in providing support to people in the community who have social or special needs and assist them to obtain local services.

For anyone with a disability and older people who may be in need, they can give support to live independently, including practical help and equipment (walking frames, hearing aids etc) and help with personal care (getting up, washing etc). They can provide blue badges for disabled parking, although if you have one from another country in Europe, you can still use it here.

For people who care for older or disabled people they can give practical help, support and breaks away from the person they look after.

There are Social Care offices in South Wigston, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray and Coalville.

For further information, click on http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/social_services/general_information/
contact_info/ss_contact_us_local_offices.htm

As mentioned in a previous section (Older People) there is a Leicestershire County Council website called ‘Leicestershire CareOnLine' which is a useful source of information on a variety of social care matters.

The City of Leicester has separate arrangements. For further information contact Leicester City Council on 0116 252 7000 or see the website www.leicester.gov.uk/health-social-care.asp. For Rutland, contact Rutland County Council on 01572 722577 or see their website www.rutland.gov.uk/pp/Gold/ViewGold.asp?ID=4878. 

Services for People with Mental Ill Health

About one in four people in this country have some form of mental illness during their lifetime. Forms of mental illness include stress, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and dementia.

The Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust provides Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. If you have any concerns about mental health matters - yours, a friend's or a relative's, you can contact the Trust on 0116 225 6000 or go to see your doctor. They may arrange for an assessment which helps to decide what treatment the person needs.

The Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust provides services for adults and older people through teams. The teams include a consultant psychiatrist, nurses, therapists and social workers. Patients are mostly treated in the community, but inpatient services and out-patient clinics are also available.

Information can be found either by contacting the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust directly or by looking on their website at www.leicspt.nhs.uk.

Information on Mental Health is also available from the Leicestershire County Council website at www.leics.gov.uk/index/social_services/mental_health.htm and on the LAMP website at www.lampdirect.org.uk. LAMP also offers other forms of support, including advocacy. Akwaaba Ayeh (www.akwaabaayeh.com/) provides mental health advocacy (amongst other things) but with a specific focus on African, African-Carribbean and Asian service users and their carers.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide a range of services for children and young people experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties or suffering from mental ill health. CAMHS in Leicester can be contacted by ringing 0116 225 2900.

Age Concern also hosts a project that focuses on mental health for BME communities. The BME Community Development Project (‘reducing inequality and improving wellbeing') are based in offices in Leicester. The Senior officer can be contacted on 0116 204 6440 and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Worker on 0116 223 7367.

The Samaritans

The Samaritans provide confidential emotional support over the phone to anybody who is suicidal or despairing. Call 08457 90 90 90, or visit the website www.samaritans.org/ to find your nearest local branch (the phone book will also help you to do this).

Carers Support

If you are looking after a relative, friend or neighbour because of their age, sickness or disability, then you are a carer. As carers can spend most of their time looking after the needs of others, their own needs can often be overlooked. There is support available if you are a carer. Contact the Adult Social Care Service at either the County or City Councils for more information. There is a lot of information on the Internet and a number of voluntary organisations that do offer advice and support to carers. Among these are CLASP and the Barnardo's CareFree Project.

Help for Drug Users

The National Drugs Helpline (FRANK) gives free information and advice for drug users and their families and friends. The main Helpline number is 0800 776600, though for people with hearing  impairments you can textphone FRANK on 0800 917 8765. Calls are free from landlines, but it will cost you if you call from a mobile. FRANK recognises 120 different languages, so should you need an interpreter, there will be one available.

If you are concerned about alcohol as well as drug use, or about a friend, or someone in your family, contact Addaction for confidential help and advice. Their website has loads of information. You can also get help with drinking problems from Drinksense at www.drinksense.org.

You can get help to stop smoking from pharmacists or from http://gosmokefree.nhs.uk/. The free NHS Smoking Helpline is 0800 169 0 169.

You can get advice from your GP on reducing or stopping your use of alcohol, nicotine or drugs.

There is a Drugs Advice Centre in Leicester City Centre. The Centre's address is 96 New Walk and the telephone number is 0116 222 9555. Information can be found on the Leicester City Council website. Click on www.leicester.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=17412.

Contacts - Other Heath Services and Organisations

Sexual Health, Pregnancy and Contraception

Sex Advice for Young People

Brook is a voluntary sector organisation that provides free confidential help and advice on sexual health specifically to young people. Though there is not a Brook Centre in Leicestershire, Brook can still be contacted on their Helpline (0800 0185 023) and there is also useful information on their website (www.brook.org.uk). Alternatively, the Connexions Service is available throughout the City and County. There is a page on ‘Sexual Health and Contraception' on their website (www.connexions-leics.org/sexualhealth/default.asp). In addition, lots of youth centres give free condoms and sexual health advice to 14-19 year olds. Simply enquire by visiting them.

Sexual Health (GUM) Clinics

‘Genito-Urinary Medicine' (GUM) clinics are NHS run and cater for all aspects of sexual health, including problems relating to sexual organs and the urinary system. They are often located at a local hospital or attached to a local health centre. You can find out where your nearest Clinic is by calling NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or contacting the Family Planning Association. Alternatively, there is a useful website related to Sexual Health Information and Advice where you can find your nearest clinic by accessing your postcode (the letter/number combination that appears at the end of your address and that begins with LE if you live in Leicestershire). Click on www.condomessentialwear.co.uk/gethelp.  

Trade Sexual Health

The Trade Sexual Health Project in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland provides information, advice, resources and support to men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women. Further information can be found on their website by clicking on www.tradesexualhealth.com/. 

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Health 

The National AIDS Helpline (0800 567123) provides free and confidential counselling and advice about HIV, AIDS, sexual health, local services, clinics and support services. They can give advice in other languages in the evenings (6.00 pm to 10.00 pm), on freephone 0800 917 2227, as follows: 

There is also an African AIDS Helpline (0800 096 7500). Calls are free and confidential and are available in English, French, Shona, Swahili and Luganda.

Leicestershire AIDS Support Services (LASS) is an independent voluntary organisation based in Leicester, but providing a range of services throughout the City of Leicester and the Counties of Leicestershire and Rutland, for people affected by HIV/AIDS. LASS also has an important preventative and educational role in the promotion of positive sexual health, for example using condoms to prevent disease.

Contraception

Contraception (also known as family planning) is legal in the UK. Both men and women can obtain advice on birth control and free contraceptives from their doctor or the Family Planning Association.

Families in the UK

If you wish to start a family in the UK you may. There is no upper limit to the number of children you are allowed to have. The average number of children per family in the UK is two.

If you already have a family, you may have the right to bring them to the UK. However, rights can be complicated and you may need to see an independent immigration adviser. You can find your nearest immigration adviser by phoning Community Legal Advice or visitingn their website (www.clsdirect.org.uk). To telephone them is free and the number is 0845 345 4345.

Having a Baby

For advice on all aspects of pregnancy, visit a family planning clinic. To find your nearest clinic, contact the Family Planning Association. They can supply free pregnancy tests. Alternatively, pregnancy testing kits can be bought at a pharmacy or supermarket.

If you are pregnant, visit your doctor as soon as possible (you can choose to see a woman doctor.) Antenatal and postnatal care is free in the UK and it is very important that you and your baby receive regular check-ups both before and after the birth. You will be offered scans, tests and healthy living advice during your pregnancy. In the UK women mostly have their babies in hospital, though home births can be arranged.

If you are thinking about terminating the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with your GP (doctor). Abortion is legal in the UK.

When your baby is born, you must register your baby with the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths (the Registry Office) within six weeks of the birth. Information on Registration Service Offices in Leicestershire can be found on the County Council website. Click on www.leics.gov.uk/registration_offices.htm. For Leicester City, click on www.leicester.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=892, and for Rutland, click on www.rutland.gov.uk/pp/Gold/ViewGold.asp?ID=847.

Women who are expecting a baby have a legal right to time off work for antenatal care, and at least 26 weeks' maternity leave. Some women may also be entitled to maternity pay, but this depends on how long they have been working for their employer.

Fathers who have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks are entitled to two weeks' paid paternity leave when the their child is born. It is important to tell your employer well in advance.

For advice on maternity leave, maternity pay, paternity leave, and financial help associated with having a baby, visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/index.htm.

Contacts - Sexual Health, Pregnancy and Contraception

Death and Bereavement

If you are with someone when they die and there is no doctor present, you should call your doctor or ring 999 and ask for the ambulance. A doctor will be able to issue a death certificate, which you will need later.

Grieving for someone is, of course, a difficult process, but coping with other aspects of death including funeral arrangements can also be hard, particularly if you do not know what to do or where to go for help. Here are some things that you might have to consider:

Making a Will

Making a will is a good idea as you then have control over what happens to your property and possessions after your death. You are not legally obliged to make a will, but if you die without doing so, your assets (possessions, property, money etc) may be distributed by law and this may not be according to your wishes.

You can write a will yourself, though it is advisable to use the services of a solicitor to ensure that the various legal procedures and formalities are followed and that your will is, in fact, valid. Solicitors can advise you on all matters relating to your will and this will obviously vary depending on how complex your wishes are. Solicitors can be expensive, but again this depends on your personal circumstances and who you approach.

Details of local solicitors can be found in the Yellow Pages or you could look on the Internet (e.g. www.solicitors.co.uk/leicestershire-solicitors.html) Voluntary organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux and Age Concern can also help with your will.

Funeral Arrangements

A funeral can involve either burial or cremation. A funeral director can be invaluable in dealing with all the practical arrangements when you are coming to terms with someone's death. You can personalise a funeral service as much as you wish and the deceased may well have made their own wishes known. Burials have to be in designated areas. Funeral directors can help you in this process.

Information on funeral directors and their services can again be found on the Internet. If the deceased is a Muslim, you can call on the services of the Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire (MBCOL). Their website address is www.mbcol.org.uk/ and their telephone number is 0116 273 0141.

Registration of Death

Normally you will have five days to register a person's death, though different time limits apply in the cases of stillbirth and if the death has been referred to a coroner. Once you've registered the death, you will be given a death certificate.

Details on registration services (for both marriage and death) can be found on Leicestershire County Council's website (click on www.leics.gov.uk/reg_services/registration_services/).

Leicester City Council also has a useful section on registering a death on their website. Click on www.leicester.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=533.

Carrying out a Will

Sorting out the deceased's finances and the process of asset distribution is the responsibility of an ‘executor' (if there is a will) or ‘administrator' (if there is no will). There may be other matters to consider if you are inheriting a property (such as Inheritance Tax) and also other financial concerns, such as whether you can claim Bereavement Payment.

For further detailed information on these and indeed on all issues relating to bereavement, there is a useful website called Facing Bereavement. Click on www.facingbereavement.co.uk/.

You can find further details of what to do after a death, including what to do when someone dies abroad, by clicking on www.direct.gov.uk/en/.Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/
WhatToDoAfterADeath/index.htm.  

Part G - Children and Education

Looking after Children

Most parents want to do their best for their children, but sometimes family life can be difficult. Advice for parents can be found at www.parentlineplus.org.uk or by phoning free on 0808 800 2222. You can find out about parental responsibilities at www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents.

Young babies and children up to five years of age are seen regularly by a health visitor at home or at a clinic. You can ask the health visitor for advice about caring for your child.

Children under 16 should not be left at home alone. It is an offence to leave a child alone if doing so puts the child at risk. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) recommends that children under the age of 13 are rarely mature enough to leave at home unsupervised. Children under the age of 16 should not be on their own overnight. Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left on their own.

If you decide to leave a child alone, you should:

1. Leave a contact phone number and make sure you are able to answer it immediately.

2. Make sure the child knows how to make a phone call.

3. If you are using a mobile phone, ensure there is sufficient credit and battery power.

4. Explain to the child how to stay safe, e.g. not opening the door to strangers.

5. Make sure potentially dangerous objects are out of reach.

6. Leave clear instructions about what to do in an emergency.

7. Tell the child what time you will return, and do not be late.

8. Give them some basic rules about what they can and cannot do while you are away.

9. Teach them basic first aid.

10. Make sure they are happy to be left alone - if they are not, you should get a childminder.

See the section on childcare in Part C.

Child Protection

Abusing children physically, emotionally or sexually is unacceptable and illegal in this country. The safety and welfare of children, child protection, is everybody's business. You could be a neighbour, friend, parent, relative, childminder, teacher or doctor - or working for any organisation which has contact with children and young people. Child protection means protecting children from all forms of abuse or neglect. It also means helping children to grow up into confident, healthy and happy adults. Leicestershire County Council's website includes some very important information on child protection, including detailed information on what is child protection and abuse, and where to go for help. Please click on: www.leics.gov.uk/index/social_services/children_young_people/
children_at_risk/child_protection_everybodys_business.htm.

The Barnardo's Safe4U Young Runaway Project in Leicester helps young people under the age of 16 who have run away from home or care, by providing advice, guidance, mediation and other forms of support. They cover Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Their helpline is free to call. Phone 0800 652 3493.

Kidscape is a national charity established specifically to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse. They have an informative website (www.kidscape.org.uk/) and also a helpline number (08451 205 204).

The NSPCC also has a national child protection helpline. The number is 0808 800 5000. Their website address is www.nspcc.org.uk.

Childline (0800 1111) - Helpline for children in trouble or danger

Childline is a free national telephone helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger. It provides excellent support, but is often busy and it can be difficult to get an answer. It offers confidential counselling for any child under 18 with any problem - 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The Childline website address is www.childline.org.uk.

Sure Start Children's Centre Information

Sure Start is the government programme for ensuring the best start in life for every child. It brings together early education, childcare, health and family support. There is a website (www.surestart.gov.uk) and a national number for information (0870 000 2288).

There are schemes and Children's Centres in various parts of the City of Leicester, as well as in Charnwood in the County (all based in Loughborough). There is also a Sure Start programme and Children's Centre in Rutland - at Casterton Business and Enterprise College in Great Casterton, Stamford (telephone 01780 762168). 

School Education

If your child is aged between 5 and 16, the law requires that he or she must attend school. State education is free. However, parents have to pay for any school uniform and sports wear. Parents on low incomes can get help with these costs and with the costs of school meals. Some schools collect used uniforms which can be re-used by others.

Pupils follow the National Curriculum which is divided into five Key Stages. Pupils do a test at the end of each Key Stage. These tests are considered to be very important.

Children under school age (under the age of 5) can attend nursery school, or receive other childcare services which provide a range of daytime activities. You may have to pay for this service, which can sometimes be quite expensive although there is help with childcare costs for eligible parents from the Childcare element of the Working Families Tax Credit. For more information, advice and guidance contact the Family Information Service (FIS). You can also get advice via ChildcareLink. For further information about children under school age (including details on some free childcare), see Part C.

Most state schools in the UK are divided up into primary (ages 5 to 11) and secondary (11 to 16 or 18) schools. Occasionally there are three educational tiers instead of two. There are different types of school and some in Leicester and Leicestershire are faith schools (Church of England, Roman Catholic, Islamic). There is a primary school in many villages, and a secondary school in most towns. There are both in the city of Leicester. Most schools in the County of Leicestershire are run by the Children and Young People's Service. This is part of the County Council, and used to be called the Education Department. The majority of schools in Leicester and Leicestershire are maintained by the respective Local Authority. Lists of these schools are available.

The school year starts in September, and has 3 terms - one from September to Christmas (in December), one from Christmas to Easter (in March or April) and one from Easter to July. There is a 6 week break in the summer and 2 weeks each at Christmas and Easter.

For safety reasons, schools expect young children to be accompanied to and from school, and there are security arrangements in place at all schools.

The majority of bilingual students enjoy their time at school, but some may experience difficulties. It is important that you contact the school immediately if your child experiences things like bullying, racism or name-calling. Schools have policies and procedures for dealing with these difficulties.

All the information that you will need concerning your children's education will be available through schools and the Local Authority. However, you can also get advice on the curriculum, how to get involved in the school, bullying, discipline, school choice, and exclusion from school at www.parentscentre.gov.uk.

How Can I find a School?

The admissions to most schools in Leicestershire are managed by Leicestershire County Council. You can approach your local school to view the facilities, and the school should be able to give you a form on which to apply. Alternatively, you can apply online on www.leics.gov.uk/admissions. For all enquiries, please telephone 0116 305 6684. The Local Authority tries to agree as many parents' requests as possible, but it can refuse your child a place if the school is full. In particular, there are strict rules about the size of infant classes. If you are refused a place, the Local Authority will help offer alternatives or explain your right of appeal.

For further support and help for parents about school admissions, there is an independent Choice Advice service - telephone 0116 305 2097 or email parent-partnership-service@leics.gov.uk. Pupils who speak English in addition to their home language may receive extra support in learning English from their school. The school will make an assessment of their needs and may recommend further help. The school can gain advice on how to go about accessing help from the Ethnic Minority Achievement Support Service (EMASS). Go to www.leics.gov.uk/index/education/going_to_school/emass.htm.

For information about school admissions in Leicester City, go to the City Council website and click on www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council--services/education--lifelonglearning/about-schools/school-admissions. 

For information about school admissions in Rutland, go to the Rutland County Council website and click on www.rutland.gov.uk/admissions.

Parentline Plus is a charity which offers general support to anyone parenting a child, whether mother, father, grandparent, family member or friend. They offer free, flexible support services, by parents, for parents. Their website address is www.parentlineplus.org.uk.

What can I do if I do not speak good English?

If you speak little or no English, you may need an interpreter when you visit the school. The Children and Young People's Service may be able to help you find one. If you want to talk to the school about your child, it can be awkward if your child is acting as your interpreter. Your child's school may have a teacher with special responsibility who you can talk to about any problems or worries. It is important, for example, that your child receives the necessary support to ensure they can do the same lessons as the others in their class. Sometimes a teacher specialising in English as an Additional Language (EAL) will work with the class teacher helping children who are learning English.

Family Learning

If you would like to learn English with your children or find out ways in which you can help your children with their schoolwork, there are free courses available. Just contact Leicestershire County Council (if you live in the County) or Leicester City Council (if you are a City resident) and ask for Family Learning.

What Happens if my child has a disability or needs special attention?

There is help available for children with special needs' such as a physical disability, a learning difficulty, or psychological problems. Wherever possible, your child will be given extra help in a mainstream school.

The Children and Young People's Service works closely with other services to make sure that children have any special help that they need. All schools will have a teacher with particular responsibility for special educational needs called a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). Most secondary schools have special educational needs staff who can support those with learning difficulties either within the class or in a smaller group.

Leicestershire County Council's website has a lot of information on Special Education Needs (SEN). Click on either: www.leics.gov.uk/index/education/going_to_school/your_guides_to_education/
guide_to_primary_education/guide_to_education_section8.htm;  or www.leics.gov.uk/index/education/special_education_needs.htm

The equivalent information from Leicester City Council can be found by clicking on: www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council--services/education--lifelong-learning/about-us/lea-services.

For the equivalent information in Rutland, go to the Rutland County Council website. Click on: www.rutland.gov.uk/pp/gold/.viewgold.asp?id=553

Involvement with the School

When your child starts school, it is a good idea to ask the school about open evenings, consultations, and how the school works with parents. Most schools have a written home-school agreement that it is recommended you sign. A homeschool agreement describes the way in which the school will communicate, and how teachers will work in partnership with parents to help a child learn. For example, this means that parents will attend open evenings and that the teacher will make sure that the parent fully understands the progress that their child is making.

You will also find that there are many opportunities for you to get involved in the school, e.g. as a parent helper in the classroom, or by joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

Parents are expected to take an active role in their child's education, so there will be contact between you and the school about your child's progress, safety and conduct.

Young People aged 16 to 19

Between the ages of 16 and 19 you are entitled to free education, and free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes. You could study at a school if they provide education for 16-19 year olds, a Further Education College or a Sixth Form College (Leicester City only). After the age of 19 there might be some fees payable if you wish to continue studying. You may be eligible for work-based learning as well. Connexions Leicester Shire will be able to help you. Connexions is a local advice and support service for young people aged 13 to 19 (and up to 25 for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities). Connexions can also give information, advice and guidance on a range of other things such as jobs, careers, benefits, money, housing, your rights, health and sex. You can find details of how to contact Connexions on their website at www.connexions-leics.org.

For information on the Connexions service in Rutland, go to their website (www.connexions-lincsandrutland.co.uk/) or telephone 01572 756655. Their office is at 8 Melton Road in Oakham.

You can find out about ESOL classes at your local Further Education College, through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), or through your local library.

If you want to go to university, your local college or school may be able to help you apply if you are a student there. If not, then visit Connexions, who will be able to advise you.

Leicestershire County Council has supported and funded a young person's website called ‘The Jitty' Click here to view the website http://www.thejitty.com/. Created by young people for young people, the site has loads of information and is also a great means for young people to talk about things that matter to them and to make contact with other young people through a chat forum. The site is very popular. It now receives around 20,000 visits every month.

Young people are very welcome at youth clubs and centres. These are all listed on ‘The Jitty'. Alternatively, you could contact the Youth Service at Leicestershire County Council or look on their website. Click on www.leics.gov.uk/index/education/community_activities/youthservice.htm. The contact number is 0116 305 6631.

Youth clubs/centres are a fantastic way for young people to meet others, become more confident and comfortable in their communities, and find support.

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Centre in Leicester runs First Out, a youth club for young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or questioning their sexuality. It meets at the Centre on a Thursday evening.

The Centre also runs Choice Café, which meets at Wigston Young People's Centre on a Wednesday evening and is also to launch a new youth group in Loughborough.

For further information contact the Centre on 0116 254 7412 or email info@llgbc.. The Centre's website address is www.llgbc.com. com

Adult Education, Training and Employment

You can apply to university if you meet or are likely to meet the entry requirements. UCAS is the central organisation through which applications for university and higher education are processed. Their website address is www.ucas.ac.uk/. They also have a Customer Service Unit which is open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm. The number to call is 0871 4680 468. You are likely to have to pay fees, though this payment may be phased over several years in some cases. You need to check very carefully what applies in your particular circumstances, and what you will have to pay and when.

For adults who wish to learn at a basic or intermediate level (not university), there are local classes available through the Adult Learning Service in both the County of Leicestershire and Leicester City, and at Further Education colleges. These classes are subsidised, but for most classes a fee is payable. You will not normally have to pay for basic skills or some vocational courses (depending on your level of qualification). You can attend courses in different places - for example, adult education in community centres, libraries or schools, or at Further Education colleges. Next Step can provide more information about training for people aged 20 or over.

Learning English and Qualifications

Improving your English language skills will help you settle into the UK. There is evidence to suggest that those migrants who are fluent in English earn significantly more than those who are not. Having good English language skills will also help you feel more confident at work and in the community. It will also help your and your family's health and wellbeing as well as career prospects.

There are English language courses locally. Sometimes these courses are called ESOL, which stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages. Some courses emphasise English language for the workplace. These courses are called ‘ESOL for work' and may be offered by your employer or other providers. English language training is also useful for people taking the citizenship exam.

If you want to learn English, or improve your English while you are here, there are many places that run classes. Adult learning services and Further Education colleges, for example, run English classes, which may be free (depending on your income). Your employer may arrange English classes for you, whether at one of the centres or at your place of work. They may allow you to take a couple of hours off a week to go to classes.

Qualifications

You may find that people in this country do not understand qualifications you gained in your own country. You can contact the National Academic Recognition Information Centre, who will compare your qualifications to British ones, and can tell you what they are equivalent to. You will need to send evidence of your qualifications with a translation in English. Responses to general enquiries and an advisory service are free. However, if you would like an individual assessment of your qualifications (which results in a letter of comparability), there is a small charge.

Libraries

Libraries are places where you can borrow books, music, DVD's and CD's, look up information, use a computer, study, read newspapers (some in languages other than English), and join in activities. There are libraries in Leicester and in many towns in Leicestershire, and some places also have mobile libraries. The library is free to join and to use. To use most library services you will need to join. This is free and you will receive a library card (all services require a library card. You can then use this to borrow books. It also acts as proof of identity if you wish to use the Internet. Anyone can apply for one, but the library usually asks to see proof of your name and address. If you do not have a fixed address, they may accept a host address (e.g. the place where you work). The library will post your card to this address.

There are increasing numbers of computers in libraries, the majority with Internet access. The larger libraries will obviously be better equipped and in some libraries - where demand is great - you may need to book a time slot in advance in order to use a computer.

In Leicestershire's libraries there are books in languages other than English. The Library Service also produces information leaflets (Welcome to Leicestershire Libraries) in Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu. If you ask your local library for books in your own language, they should be able to arrange to get some for you. Libraries also have books for children, and run the BookStart project which gives free books to parents of new babies. They can arrange for books in English or other languages.

To find out more about libraries in Leicestershire, phone 0116 305 6988 or email libraries@leics.gov.uk. You could also have a look at the relevant pages on the County Council website by clicking on www.leics.gov.uk/index/community/libraries/county_libraries.htm.  

With regards to the City of Leicester, phone Leicester City Council on 0116 252 7000. The City Council employs an officer who has responsibility for developing library services to new and developing communities in Leicester City. The direct line number for this officer is 0116 299 5448. You could also have a look at the section on their website (http://www.leicester.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=2089&menu=off).  

Information on library services in Rutland can be found on the Rutland On Line website. Click on www.rutnet.co.uk/pp/gold/viewgold.asp?id=562.  The relevant telephone number at Oakham Library is 01572 722918.

Contact Information

Part H - Older people

Older People

The population of elderly people in the UK is growing. There are 11 million pensioners in the country (about 18% of the overall population) and it is predicted that by 2031 that percentage will increase to almost a quarter of the UK population.

The treatment of the elderly population has been the subject of an increasing number of reports, and charities working for and with older people have increasingly been highlighting issues of concern.

Two of the biggest charities are Age Concern and Help the Aged.

Age Concern

Age Concern is a registered charity and one of the largest and recognisable voluntary organisations working with older people in the United Kingdom. Age Concern is a federation of independent organisations that work together under a shared set of common standards, aims and values.

At a local level, Age Concern provides a range of services to older people. Specific services provided will vary, depending upon the locality, but are likely to include

care services such as day care, practical support such as handyperson services, and information and advice services that will provide assistance with accessing welfare benefits. Age Concern is also involved in providing services that enable older people to remain active and that promote physical and mental well-being.

Age Concern also has an important campaigning role and ensures that issues of importance to older people are raised and properly considered by government and other organisations/sectors. It actively campaigns on these issues and is a powerful voice.

The national website can be found by clicking on www.ageconcern.org.uk/.

Locally, there are Age Concern organisations in both Leicester City and for the County of Leicestershire and Rutland. There are also a number of local independent Age Concerns operating in Glenfield, Hinckley, Lutterworth, Oadby and Wigston, and Syston.

Help the Aged

Help the Aged's services are broadly similar to those of Age Concern. With an international as well as UK remit, the organisation actively works to help disadvantaged older people and campaigns on issues that affect them. Their website (www.helptheaged.org.uk) contains lots of information and you can also donate and buy goods online.

Leicestershire County Council has also developed a very useful website (called ‘Leicestershire CareOnLine') that gives loads of information on care issues and care facilities. It is not just concerned with elderly people, so it is well worth a look for other areas of interest and concern (for example, Learning Disability, Mental Ill Health, Finding Work, Travel). However, if you click on ‘Older People', you will find a large list of organisations that serve older people in a variety of ways. This includes organisations that cater for specific illnesses and disabilities.

Part I - Travel in Leicestershire

Travel in Leicestershire

Public transport in Leicestershire includes buses, trains and planes. Users of public transport are expected not to cause damage or behave in a way that offends other passengers. If you do not have your own transport or you have difficulty getting around, one of the community transport schemes might be able to help.

For information about community transport in Leicester, call 0116 221 1435. Leicestershire services can be found on www.leicestershire.gov.uk/
new_servicepagestheme.htm?initial=&pid=272&theme=T6 and for information about services in Rutland go to www.rutland.gov.uk/pp/service/
detail.asp?id=2387.   

Trains

Leicester Railway Station is on the mainline route from London to Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and other destinations (East Midlands Trains). Cross Country Trains also connect Leicester to Birmingham and the West Midlands as well as destinations to the East. There are major railway stations in Loughborough, Market Harborough, Oakham (Rutland), Hinckley and Melton Mowbray. You can find out about trains from the National Rail Enquiries service.

You might be eligible for a railcard which would entitle you to cheaper tickets. Tickets are usually bought before you get on the train.

You can buy rail tickets at stations or online at www.nationalrail.co.uk. You will need to keep your ticket for the duration of your journey. It is not legal to smoke in trains or buses, or on a rail station platform as this is seen as an enclosed public space.

Buses 

Bus routes cover most of Leicestershire, and are run by many different companies. The main routes between Leicester and the major towns usually have frequent services, but some of the remoter villages only have a few buses that go to them each day, or even only one each way. You can find out about buses from Traveline.

Free timetables are available from bus stations, libraries or tourist information centres. Some information is also available at bus stops. Some bus routes use the ‘star track' system, which means that bus stops will have electronic displays telling you how long you will be waiting before the next bus arrives. To catch a bus, wait at the correct stop and put your hand out to tell the driver to stop. You can buy tickets from the driver, but try to have the right money. You will need to keep your ticket for the duration of your journey.

Information on local buses in Leicestershire can be found on the internet by clicking on www.leics.gov.uk/index/highways/public_transport/bus_train_services/
bus_services.htm.

There are coach services from bus stations in the area to cities and airports across the UK. You can find out about coaches at www.nationalexpress.com.

Planes

East Midlands Airport is situated near Castle Donington in North West Leicestershire (about 20-25 miles from Leicester). You can fly from here to other UK destinations as well as many destinations in Europe and wider afield. European destinations include Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Gdansk, Lodz and Wroclaw (Poland), Prague (Czech Republic), Plovdiv, Bourgas and Varna (Bulgaria), Riga (Latvia), Budapest (Hungary) and Bratislava (Slovakia). Other major national and international airports are relatively close including Birmingham, London Luton and London Stansted.

Taxis

Taxis are generally more expensive than buses or trains, unless several people share a journey. They often wait in taxi ranks outside stations or in central areas of main towns. Alternatively, you can ring a local taxi company and book a taxi. Taxis are not allowed to drive around looking for customers, and must be licensed, showing a small licence plate on the back. They have their rates fixed by Local Authorities,

Cars, Parking, Cycling and Walking

Cars

To buy new or second hand cars look in the local paper, or at car dealers. See the section on ‘Information about Driving' in the UK ( Page 91 »» ). In the UK, motorways link different areas of the country; for example Leicester connects to both the M1 (London to Leeds and the North) and the M69 (to Coventry and to connect to the M6 and Birmingham and the North West). Roads which link major towns are called A roads (for example the A6 and A46 in Leicestershire). Less major roads are called B roads. You can buy road maps at most petrol stations as well as book shops.

Parking

In most car parks (shown by a large blue sign with a white P on it), there will be machines where you can buy a ticket. In some car parks you buy a ticket for the amount of time you expect to park your car for (Pay and Display car parks), and in others you are given a ticket, and pay when you leave for the amount of time you were there. Attendants can help you if you are stuck, but you should note that not all car parks have them.

On streets where there are single yellow lines marked on the side of the road, there are restrictions on parking. These should be explained on a small yellow sign near by. If there are 2 yellow lines (double yellow lines) then you should not park there at all. Some roads have marked parking spaces reserved for people who live there. If you are parked illegally, you will get a parking ticket. This is a fine, which you should pay as soon as you can. Information on how to pay will be included on the ticket. The amount you must pay often goes up after 14 days. You may have a clamp put on a wheel of your car if you park illegally. You will have to pay a fine to have this taken off. If you consider that you have been unjustly fined or clamped you can appeal.

Cycling and Walking

Many people cycle in Leicestershire for pleasure and to go to work or shopping. Some roads have special cycle lanes which help keep cyclists safe from cars. To help you stay safe when cycling, wear a helmet and reflective strips. Many towns have paths for cyclists. These are marked with signs. You can find out where there are cycle paths by clicking on www.sustrans.org.uk. The Highway Code applies to cyclists (see following section on ‘Information about Driving').

Pedestrians use pavements to walk safely along roads. If there is no pavement you should walk at the side of the road and towards oncoming traffic so that you can see traffic approaching. You can cross roads safely at marked crossings. Crossings with traffic lights will show a lit red person for ‘stop' and a green person when you can cross. At night and during the winter months it is advisable to wear light-coloured or reflective clothes.

There are many opportunities for walking in the County of Leicestershire, with some beautiful places to see. Some walks are indicated on maps and guides and there are organised walks where you have the benefit of a personal guide. If you are walking or cycling in the countryside you can use public footpaths, which are marked with signs. You can walk freely on common land and on mapped areas of moorland, heath, and mountain without the need to stick to paths.

When using the countryside, you should follow the Countryside Code. This explains how you can respect and enjoy the countryside. You can find out more about open access, the Countryside Code, and the activities and walks available in your area at www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk. The Countryside Code also features on the Ramblers Association website (www.ramblers.org.uk/info/britain/countrysidecode.html).

Information about Driving

• Traffic in the UK drives on the left-hand side of the road.
• You must be at least 17 years old to drive a car or a motorcycle in the UK (and older for larger vehicles).
• If you ride a motorbike you need to wear a crash helmet, unless you are a Sikh and wear a turban.
• You have to be at least 16 to drive a moped, and must wear a crash helmet.
• To drive on roads in the UK, your vehicle must be displaying a valid tax disc and you must have a valid driving licence and UK insurance for that vehicle. It must also have a valid MOT certificate (certificate of roadworthiness to say that it is safe to drive). If you do not have any of these documents, do not drive. If in doubt check with your local police officer or station. Further details about driving licences are given in leaflet D100 available from Post Offices.
• There are a large number of companies who offer either insurance or breakdown cover, or sometimes both.
• If you want to drive in the UK and have a valid driving licence from your home country, you can use it for up to a year from your date of entry into the UK (or up to the age of 70 if you are from an EU country).
• If you bring a car into this country from another country, it must have valid tax, insurance and a certificate of roadworthiness (to say it is safe to drive), from the other country. If the car will be here for a long time, you should tell Customs and Excise that you have brought it in.
• On the Direct.Gov website, there is a good section on driving in Great Britain on a foreign licence. Click on www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/
  DrivingIngbOnaForeignLicence/index.htm.
• You should read the Highway Code, which gives details of the laws and road signs, before you start to drive. You can see a copy of the Highway Code at your local library (it is also available online at www.highwaycode.gov.uk/).
• If a seatbelt is fitted in a vehicle, it must be worn. It is your responsibility if you are over 14. If there is an under 14 year old in the vehicle, then it is the driver's responsibility.
• Every passenger must have a designated seat. Carrying more people in a vehicle than the number of seats is dangerous and illegal.
• If you have a baby or a young child, you should fit a car seat suitable for your child's height and weight. The seat should meet the safety standards. Try before you buy and ask the retailer to show you how to fit the seat and fasten the safety straps correctly. You can find more advice on child car seats at the Government website www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk. By law, no child can sit in the front seat without a suitable car seat, or seat belt (if their height is over 135 cm). No child under three years of age can travel in a car without the correct car seat.

Information about Driving continued...

• Drinking alcohol and then driving is a very serious offence in the UK. You must not attempt to drive or sit in the driving seat of a car after you have been drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs, even if the car is not moving. The penalties if you do so are very serious. If you are found guilty by a court, you will be banned from driving for at least 12 months. You could also: Go to prison for 6 months. Be fined up to £5000. Lose your job or car. Have to pay much higher car insurance costs.
• The safest thing is not to consume any alcohol at all is you are going to be driving.
• Never offer an alcoholic drink to someone else who is driving.

• In the UK it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while you are driving. If you are caught doing this you could be fined and receive penalty points on your driving licence. Points on your licence could lead to you paying more for car insurance.

• In the UK, if you build up 12 or more penalty points within a three year period, you will be liable to be disqualified from driving. The Direct.gov.uk website provides a useful and important section on what happens if you are convicted of a motoring offence in terms of motoring endorsements and points etc (www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/
  endorsementsandDisqualifications/Dg_4022550.)

• You need to be aware of national speed limits in the UK. For cars, unless signposted, this means the following:

• 30 mph in built up areas (e.g.residential and shopping areas)

• 60 mph in open areas single carriageways

• 70 mph in open areas dual carriageways and on motorways

• There are different speed limits for cars towing caravans, buses and coaches and goods vehicles.

• The above mentioned speed limits apply unless signposts tell you otherwise. A good example would be 20 mph around schools at the beginning and end of school days.

• If you have an accident, you must stop and give your name and address and the name of your insurance company to all the other drivers involved or anyone acting on their behalf. You must call the police if someone is injured or if the cars are in a dangerous position where other people may crash into them. If you admit the accident was your fault, the insurance company may refuse to pay. It may be advisable to wait for the insurance company to decide for itself who was responsible for the accident.

  For important information about driving in the UK, please look at the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) website (specifically www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers.aspx indeed the Direct.Gov website (www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm).)or

  For general information about road safety, whether you are walking, cycling, driving or a passenger, go to www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk. 

Contact Information

Part J - Leisure in Leicestershire

Leisure Activities

Taking part in sports, cultural or outdoor activities can help you to meet people, relax, and understand the history, culture and natural environment of the area. Towns often have sports and arts facilities such as leisure centres, swimming pools, museums, concert venues and art galleries, and there are many local clubs for sports and other activities.

The National Trust, an organisation established to preserve England's countryside and heritage, owns 2 properties in Leicestershire - Staunton Harold Church and Ulverscroft Nature Reserve. There are a further 23 National Trust properties and locations in the East Leicestershire to the North West.

The National Forest covers three counties in central England, including the North West of Leicestershire. This is an area in which new woodlands are being created and the countryside is being transformed for the benefit of wildlife, the environment and local communities. There are many visitor attractions in the National Forest area and further details can be found on their website.

There are a great many other areas to visit in the Leicestershire countryside and towns. Highlights include a number of country parks, Foxton Locks to the South of the County (close to Market Harborough), museums in Loughborough, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray (amongst others), the Snibston Discovery Park in Coalville and the historic site of the Bosworth Battlefield mentioned in Part A - General Information about Leicestershire.

The County Council website is a useful first port of call for information, as is the City Council website for venues and leisure opportunities in Leicester City.

The Go Leicestershire website contains information on all of these, as well as details on restaurants, pubs and clubs, festivals and other forms of entertainment, activities and venues for children (including Twin Lakes, a theme park on the outskirts of Melton Mowbray), and shopping centres and opportunities. Unsurprisingly, the City of Leicester is particularly popular for shopping. The Shires Shopping Centre is in the heart of the City, whilst Fosse Park remains a popular shopping outlet on the edge of the city near to the M1 and M69 motorway junctions. However, in other parts of the City as in all the County towns, you will find major High Street stores as well as smaller stores and small boutiques catering for a variety of tastes.

Fishing requires a licence, and permission from the lake or river owner (in Scotland this permission must be in writing). There are many bylaws (rules) regarding fishing. For example, anglers must return to the water all salmon caught in England and Wales before 16th June each year, and they cannot use crayfish as bait. For full details visit www.environment-agency.gov.subjects/fish.uk/

Libraries are also a very useful source of information on leisure outlets and opportunities. For contact information see the libraries section.

Community Facilities

There are many community centres serving neighbourhoods and, in the countryside, towns and villages. In Leicester and Loughborough there are also community centres serving particular ethnic or faith groups. The latter may be attached to places of worship. These centres provide a range of activities and are also places when you can meet other people. There are also newspapers, news sheets, radio stations and websites geared towards serving particular communities. Some use community languages.

Sports

Leicestershire is home to many different sports. Spectator sport is popular, with Leicester City Football Club, Leicester Tigers Rugby Union, Leicestershire Country Cricket Club and Leicester Riders Basketball regularly attracting big crowds and a high profile. Leicester Racecourse, situated in Oadby, holds a number of both Flat and National Hunt meetings throughout the course of the season, and Mallory Park and Donington Park are both popular destinations for motorsport in the County.

There are many leisure centres and swimming pools in Leicester and Leicestershire, and a large number of sports clubs.

You can contact your Local Authority Sports Development Officer, or the Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport Partnership for more details, or look in the phone book. The Sport Partnership can be contacted on 01509 226745 (www.lrsport.org.uk).

Music and Theatre

Leicester and Leicestershire has a variety of venues catering for different musical and theatrical tastes. The Haymarket Theatre in Leicester has a new home and a new name with state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of Leicester City Centre. The Curve opened in the Autumn of 2008.

De Montfort Hall is a leading regional and national venue, whose wide-ranging programme regularly includes classical, jazz, opera, ballet, comedy, world music and West End musicals.

The Y Theatre on East Street in Leicester (close to Leicester Railway Station) is also a great venue for music, dance and comedy.

The Leicester Comedy Festival takes place in February each year and the Summer Sundae Festival, which attracts an increasingly high profile range of bands, usually takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend. 

Cinema

There are a number of cinemas in Leicester and Leicestershire, ranging from the big multi-screen complexes at the Meridian Leisure Park and the Odeon in Leicester, to smaller, more local venues in Loughborough, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray (The Regal on King Street).

Information can be founding by clicking on www.192.com/directory.cfm/LEICESTER/CINEMA.

Radio, Television and Newspapers

The BBC in Leicester is housed in a modern building in St Nicholas Place in the City Centre. The venue is home to BBC Radio Leicester as well as the BBC's Asian Network. A number of independent radio stations can also be heard within Leicestershire, including Leicester Sound and Sabras Radio. As Leicestershire falls within the East Midlands region, the local BBC and independent television (ITV) networks will focus on the East Midlands. However, in some areas of the county, you can also pick up the general Midlands networks that operate out of Birmingham. This mostly affects local news and weather forecasts.

Leicestershire also has a variety of local newspapers, the biggest being the Leicester Mercury. The Mercury's offices in St George Street (not far from Leicester Railway Station) have just been revamped and modernised.

The media in the UK is independent of the Government, though various national newspapers will reflect different political views - to greater or lesser degrees - and this may mean that they strongly support (or oppose) the Government's actions on particular issues. It is nevertheless very important to make clear that the media is not state-controlled.

There is a useful internet site (The Big Project) that provides links to the UK national newspapers and agencies, as well as newspapers in the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, newspapers that relate to a number of ethnic minorities and also a wide range of newspapers from across the world. All of the newspapers featured on this website are available online. The Big Project website (www.thebigproject.co.uk) is also a great source of general information.

The BBC is probably one of the most well-known and far-reaching British media institutions. It prides itself on being "independent, impartial and honest", though that doesn't mean that it doesn't receive criticism from people who don't think that this is the case. Your television licence fee funds the BBC to provide its services to the public.

The BBC World Service may be very familiar to you. It provides international news, analysis and other information from all across the world, in English and 32 other languages. 

Food and Shopping

You will find shops selling food and other goods in most Leicestershire locations, from the City of Leicester to towns and villages. Some towns have regular markets where you can buy locally produced goods which are sometimes cheaper than those in shops. This is also the case in Leicester's City Centre. The market there is the largest covered market in Europe and has been in existence on the same site since the year 1300! There are also large shops called supermarkets. Specialist shops (sometimes called delicatessens) or specialist areas in supermarkets sell foods from around the world. On occasions, Leicester City Centre also hosts street stalls selling food products from Europe and elsewhere.

Local Leicestershire delicacies include Melton Mowbray pork pies and Stilton and Red Leicester cheeses.

Kosher and halal food is sold in supermarkets. There are also a large number of halal butchers in Leicester and Loughborough. The Halal Monitoring Committee (which monitors, inspects and certifies halal products nationally) has its head office in Leicester. They provide a list of certified halal butchers on their website (www.halalmc.co.uk/). There are also specialist African-Caribbean food outlets and in recent years an increasing number of shops selling Polish food and other products.

Vegetarian and vegan food is fairly common in supermarkets and health food shops, and is usually labelled as such.

Food labels will also show details such as salt, fat and protein content, and the presence of potential allergens such as nuts, milk and gluten. All food in shops will be labelled with the date by which the food should be consumed. This is to help prevent food poisoning and therefore it is not a good idea to buy food that is out of date and it may be illegal for the shopkeeper to sell this produce.

Most UK residents buy meat and dairy products from shops, and do not hunt or keep animals for food. There are laws regarding the treatment of animals and livestock, and some species are protected. Your Local Authority can advise you on what animals you can keep at home.

Used goods are sold by members of the public at local sales sometimes called jumble sales or car boot sales. Most towns have charity shops which also sell used goods. Details of where to find shops and supermarkets can be found in the Yellow Pages phone book.

There are laws regulating how goods are sold and for the protection of buyers. You can find out about these at your local Trading Standards office or at Consumer Direct (www.consumerdirect.gov.uk). Information about Trading Standards in Leicester can be found on www.leicester.gov.uk/business/trading-standards.

For Leicestershire, click on www.leics.gov.uk/index/community/reg_services/tradingstandards.htm, and for Rutland, click on www.rutland.gov.uk/pp/service/detail.asp?id=2499

Part K - Asylum Seekers

Asylum Seekers - NASS

If you are an asylum seeker and have received an Asylum Registration Card (ARC) from the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA), it is likely that you are receiving some means of support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).

NASS provide help to destitute asylum seekers in the way of financial support and housing (if needed), whilst their claims to asylum are being assessed. Following a period in temporary or short term accommodation, asylum seekers are dispersed into NASS accommodation. This accommodation is offered on a No Choice basis which means you cannot actually choose where you want to live. However if you choose to have financial support only (could be termed Subs or Support only) you can choose where you live but you will not be given assistance with housing costs. However if you live with family or friends who are already in NASS or council accommodation you and your family/friend may be breaking your/their tenancy regulations.

As an asylum seeker, you cannot claim mainstream income support or benefits. Your weekly financial support comes directly from NASS. As of March 2008, the figures were as follows:

If you are an Asylum Seeker:

• You can only do paid work if you have not had a decision on your asylum claim for 6 months. You can only then work if you apply for and are granted Permission to Work. You may also work after being given leave to remain in the UK.
• However, you can do voluntary work.
• You can attend subsidised courses at a college, but not in higher education.
• School age children up to the age of 16 must attend school. 

Asylum Decisions

The asylum decision-making process is complex. It is important that you understand the process and what may happen to you and your support when you get a positive or negative decision on your asylum claim. There are people and organisations that can help you fully understand and offer some advice and support. Refugee Action, who provide advice and support to asylum seekers, refugees and partner organisations, is a good example of a national body that also operates locally.

Support

There are a variety of local forms of support in and around Leicester. Local groups based on nationality do exist. There are also various projects and groups, some of whom are linked to the Church (e.g. Diocese of Leicester ‘Welcome Project'). Other important means of support are provided by the British Red Cross and a new body called Leicester City of Sanctuary which is part of a national movement working towards creating a more hospitable climate for asylum seekers and refugees. Multi-agency Asylum Seeker and Refugee forums operate in both Leicester and in the Charnwood area. The Dreamers project in Loughborough provides support and activities for young asylum seekers from a variety of countries of origin. Based at Mountfields Lodge Youth Centre, the project has about 90 members and has received a nationallyrecognised award for its work. Leicester City Primary Care Trust provides a health service (called ‘ASSIST') specifically for people seeking asylum at the Clyde Street Medical Centre not far from Leicester City Centre. 

More Information

Who can provide More Information

There are a large number of local groups and organisations catering for the many different cultures, faiths and nationalities in Leicester and Leicestershire. The Leicestershire Ethnic Minority Partnership is a useful organisation for information on such groups, as are the two Racial Equality Councils situated in Leicester and Charnwood. There will, nevertheless, be communities that are not represented by organisations at a local level (though some are, e.g. Polish). Many of these are the new communities to the area.

Organisations do exist at national level, however, and some examples are included in the following list of contacts. Julian Harrison at Leicestershire County Council can also be contacted for further information on all such groups and organisations, whether at local or national/ international level. He can be contacted by ringing 0116 305 7018 or by email on jnharrison@leics.gov.uk. 

Who can provide More Information continued

The following is a list and contact details of the embassies of the new Central and Eastern European Union Accession Countries. A full list of all embassies/consulates is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London. The telephone number for general enquiries at the FCO is 0207 008 1500. Details are also available on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk). Click on the ‘Country Profiles' item under the ‘About the FCO' heading and then select your country of choice.

Final Comments

Final Comments

We hope that you now feel more knowledgeable about how things work in this country. As a result, we also hope that you are more relaxed, comfortable and confident about your new life here. Please let us know what you think about this document, and indeed about your experiences in Leicestershire and the UK, whether in relation to services or more generally. We would very much appreciate your help here, simply by letting us know what you think. Get in touch with Julian Harrison at Leicestershire County Council (click here for Contact details).

Please also get involved, whether that be in your local community or more formally. As you will now know, there are many local organisations that would always be grateful for your support and an extra pair of hands! There are also local consultation panels, set up to receive views from the community about their services. Community Forums exist all round the county, for example. Leicestershire's Voice exists at a county level. It is a panel of local people that are asked by Leicestershire County Council for their views on a number of issues throughout the year. Information on this can be found on the County Council website (www.leics.gov.uk/index/your_council/haveyoursay/
consultation_citizens_panel_voice.htm) or you could telephone 0116 305 6096.

Another possibility is to become a Citizens Reporter and be a mouthpiece as well as a messenger for your community. Citizens Eye is a new organisation with its roots in Leicestershire's Black and Minority Ethnic Citizens Jury. Why not take a look at their website and see if this is an area in which you might be interested in getting involved? The website address is www.citizenseye.org/.

You don't need to join something to make a contribution to your community. You can make a real difference on an informal basis by simply helping and offering support to people around you. The more you get involved, meet people and make friends, the more enjoyable your life will be here in our City and County.

We have tried in this document to be as accurate as we can. However, there will undoubtedly be errors. Things get out of date very quickly. As a result, we will be reproducing and updating this document at least once a year, so please let us know if any information is wrong, so that we can change things for the next copy.

As we mentioned at the beginning, a very warm welcome to you. We are so pleased and honoured that you have joined our community.

Contact Us

This publication has been produced as part of Leicestershire Together's Black and Minority Ethnic Citizens' Jury Project and Leicestershire's Community Cohesion Framework. For further information about both of these, please contact Julian Harrison at Leicestershire County Council.

Julian Harrison
Community Planning Manager
Policy Team, Chief Executive's Department
Leicestershire County Council
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicester LE3 8RA

Tel: 0116 305 7018
Fax: 0116 265 7271
Email: jnharrison@leics.gov.uk

Acknowledgement

Extensive use has been made of Cornwall Local Strategic Partnership's excellent publication ‘Welcome to Cornwall: Information for Migrant Workers'. We are grateful to the Partnership and in particular the Partnership's Social Inclusion Officer, Andrea Gilbert, for giving us permission to copy much of the general information contained in their document.

We extend our thanks to the following organisations who have contributed to this booklet:

Age Concern Leicester
Age Concern Leicestershire
Connexions Leicester Shire
Cornwall Strategic Partnership
De Montfort University, Mary Seacole Research Centre
Diocese of Leicester Board of Social Responsibility
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
Improvement and Development Agency for
Local Government (IDeA)
Leicester City Council
Leicester City Primary Care Trust
Leicester Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Centre
Leicester Mercury
Leicester Shire Economic Partnership
Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport Partnership
Leicestershire Constabulary
Leicestershire Constabulary Police Advisory Group on Race Issues (PAGRI)
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Leicestershire & Leicester City Learning Partnership
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Melton Polish Community
North West Leicestershire CVS Refugee Action
Signpost to Polish Success (Nottingham)
Voluntary Action Melton
Voluntary Action South Leicestershire