A PROJECT that helps thousands of migrant workers in Oxfordshire integrate into the community has had its funding frozen.

The initiative, led by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action, provides English language courses for foreign workers, ensures support services and leaflets are available in different languages and has produced a guide to living in the county.

It was awarded £500,000 funding over 18 months, but the cash has now been frozen as part of the Government’s deficit reduction plans.

So far the Government has provided £350,000 of the total funding agreed, but the organisation has been told it will find out about the remaining £150,000 after the Chancellor’s emergency Budget on Tuesday.

OCVA chief executive Alison Baxter said: “It’s horrible. I had staff who thought they might be redundant this week.

“Now they don’t know. It might be later in the year.”

She added: “We have had six months to recruit staff, set up offices, start courses and produce translated materials.

“We have staff costs, office costs and organisations delivering these courses.”

OCVA works with more than 400 charities and voluntary groups across the county, which are all worried about future funding.

Mrs Baxter added: “This is just the start. What’s going to happen next?

“There’s a misconception the voluntary sector comes for free.

“It’s done by volunteers but they need to be checked and insured, and many charities employ paid staff.”