Mothertongue, an organisation based in Reading which provides culturally sensitive counselling, has secured a bursary from the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) to attend the September 2011 Liberal Democrat conference. The NCVO Party Conference Bursary Scheme exists to enable smaller organisations to attend a political party conference and have their voices heard at national level during a roundtable discussion with senior political figures.

Beverley Costa, CEO of Mothertongue, said: ‘It will be an excellent opportunity for us to discuss the local impact and national reach that a small value-driven charity can have. We want to hear what MPs and policymakers have to say about the role a psychologically-orientated service like ours has to play in healing the kinds of rifts and splits in society that are currently on everyone’s minds. Also of great importance to us is to hear how policymakers intend to resource and provide support for people who do not speak English well. We are keen to hear the current thinking on policies regarding diversity, community cohesion and integration, and the role that policymakers think an organisation like ours can play as part of the prevention of extremism agendas.’

Mothertongue