Community Interpreting Programme

This Refugee Week we are celebrating the first graduates of Newham’s Refugee Community Interpreter training programme and the amazing impact they will have in the community.

In partnership with Welcome Newham, the charity, REAP, delivered their innovative community interpreter training programme to 13 refugees seeking sanctuary in the borough. Together participants spoke 20 languages. Training people seeking sanctuary as interpreters has many benefits. It empowers people to use their skills, helps the local community, enables connection and peer support and values culture and language. Being a community interpreter is also a great thing for residents to put on their CV, helping them find a job once eligible.

Improving access to training and volunteer opportunities, such as community interpreting, is a key part of delivering Step 21: helping people seeking sanctuary to lead independent, happy and healthy lives.

To find out more information about how the Welcome Newham Team support refugees and people seeking asylum, visit here