AN ORGANISATION which helps people from ethnic minorities find their way into work has reported rising demand from women for basic English literacy lessons.

Oxford Ethnic Minority Business Service has introduced an extra class, replacing a sewing course which has been scrapped because of falling demand.

Director Shaila Srinivasan said: "Our English literacy courses are oversubscribed. If people from minorities are to be fully welcomed, they need the opportunity to learn.

"Many of the women on the courses are coming out of their houses for the first time and have had no opportunity to learn English, though of course they are literate in their own languages."

The overall autumn intake of students at Oxford's Ethnic Minority Business Service, funded by the Employment Service, remains unchanged at about 150. She added that sewing courses were popular in the past. Now it is becoming difficult to place students in jobs at the end of their courses since many companies commission work in China or Taiwan.

However the sewing courses still continue at the service's Banbury branch.

It continues to provide its free childcare service, called Balwadi, even though funding has been withdrawn by East Oxford Action.