The meeting organised by the Bristol Somali Forum with the local Party leaders was well attended and highly informative and interactive. In attendance were Party leaders Tim Kent (Liberal) Hellen Holland (Labour) and Daniella Radice (Green party).

The topics that were discussed were education, housing, economic regeneration and support for small business and youth and play services.

All the Party leaders spoke of their Policies, strategies and the challenges in all four policy areas of concern to the Somali community.

Of the greatest concern for the Somali community members in attendance were education and housing. Specifically in Education the frustration of Academy school governance which are outside of local authority control, pupil attainment and the role teacher expectations played in Somali student attainment in local school were discussed. All three Party leaders agreed to go away and look into the practices and processes of predicted grades in one secondary school which participants felt was of greatest concern and if the case, discriminatory.

The Somali community members participating were grateful for the opportunity to meet with the Party leaders of their wonderful city and all were keen to work with them and their Party’s to make  a difference in Bristol life. The Party Leaders all encouraged any member of the community to public to directly get in contact with them.

The Bristol Somali Forum would like to thank all who attended once again.