Advice and Support

Any person making an application for UK Citizenship will need to provide evidence that they not only speak the English language but also that they can demonstrate knowledge of life in the United Kingdom.

This evidence can be obtained in one of two ways dependent on the standard of the applicant's English. Applicants with a reasonable knowledge of English will be able to take a short new computerised test at one of 90 Life in the UK Test centres. This will be a little like taking a theory test.

The questions will be based on the information contained in chapters 2, 3 and 4 of the handbook Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship which is available from bookshops and The Stationery Office for £9.99. Successful completion of the test will satisfy the language requirement as well as the knowledge of life requirement. See the Related Sites section for an external link to the Stationary Office.

Alternatively, applicants whose English is not so good will need to complete new English for Speakers of other languages with citizenship classes, which are language courses that include learning information about life in the UK.

Information on this may be obtained via the Life in the UK Test helpline, telephone number 0800 015 4245. Details will also be published on a Life in the UK website which will be able to be accessed from the IND Nationality website in the near future. Further details about the tests are available on the British Citizenship website. This can be found in the Related Sites section.

English as a Second Language

In Orkney, English as a second language classes or tuition may be undertaken at the Learning Link, which is part of Community Education:

The Learning Link

Mrs Pattie Hartley

18 Queen Street

Kirkwall Orkney

KW15 1JE

Telephone: 01856 879 200

Fax: 01856 879 211

The Learning Link gives people help with reading, maths, spelling or basic computer skills. We offer adults the chance to brush up on their basic skills and take that first step to improving the quality of their lives.

Where people can't readily come into Kirkwall for tuition, the Learning Link will arrange a tutor to work with you at a place and time that suits you. For those who work, evening and weekend appointments are available. Arrangements can also be made for students living in the islands. No-one is to far away to get help.

The Learning Link is open from 10am - 2pm, Monday to Friday and offers a free and confidential service, we also help with travel and childcare costs.

Who is Eligible for Free School Meals?

You can claim free school meals for your children if you are receiving:

• Income Support
• Income based Job Seeker's Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £14,495 (06/07 as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs)
• If you are between 16 and 18 years old and receive any of these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school meals for yourself.
• You may also be eligible if you are an asylum seeker receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

The Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

• The Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 as a result of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, Orkney Islands Council is now required to ensure that any new employee provides evidence of eligibility to work within the United Kingdom. This will be required prior to an appointment being made.
• There are a number of specified documents that you could provide, some of which are listed below. Only one will be required.
• A document issued by a previous employer, the Inland Revenue, the Benefits Agency, The Contributions Agency, or the Employment Service (or their Northern Ireland equivalents) which states the National Insurance number of the named person.
• A passport describing the holder as a British Citizen or as having the right to abode in, or an entitlement to re-admission, to the United Kingdom.
• A passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement issued by, or on behalf of, the Government of the United Kingdom, certifying that the holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
• A certificate of Registration or Naturalisation as a British Citizen.
• A Birth Certificate issued in the United Kingdom or in the Republic of Ireland.

A passport or identity card issued by a State which is party to the European Economic Area Agreement and which describes the holder as a national of the State.

In the interest of equality and fairness this documentation requires to be provided by ALL prospective employees regardless of race, colour or ethnic origin.

It does not form part of the selection process but is a final check to ensure that the Council has acted within the law in making an appointment to a successful applicant.

The Border and Immigration Agency is a new executive agency of the Home Office. The Agency assumes the responsibilities of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate for managing immigration control in the UK.

For Further Information and Support Please Contact:

Citizens Advice Bureau

Anchor Buildings

6 Bridge Street, Kirkwall

Telephone: 01856 875 266

Housing Dept

Orkney Islands Council: Telephone: 01856 873 535

Police

Kirkwall Police Station

Burgh Road

Kirkwall

Orkney

KW15 1AH

Telephone:  01856 872 241