Kingston Council has been awarded £338,000 to provide English language courses to vulnerable refugees and migrants in the borough.

The investment, from the Government’s Controlling Migration Fund, will go to Kingston’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Integration programme.

The aim of the funding is to “create more independent communities” and “ease pressure on local services”.

The leader of Kingston Council Kevin Davis said he welcomed the funding, which “will make a real difference to the lives of these vulnerable groups of people in the borough”.

He added: “We have a strong partnership with local education providers, the voluntary sector and other community groups that will make this programme a real success.

“The grant will go a long way to provide a service that will give these individuals lifelong skills whilst delivering wider integration benefits for the community.”