New WEA community interpreting forum

The WEA's first National Community Interpreting Project (NCIP) Forum was recently held at the West Reservoir Centre in Stoke Newington, London attracting more than fifty people. The event opened with a presentation from Jill Gander, Interpreting Coordinator for Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture, who spoke on the theme of "Interpreter as third party in mental health".

Following Jill, Haji Bassam of the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture spoke to the group, drawing on his extensive direct experience as an interpreter at the Foundation. His presentation explored the wide range of necessary skills required of an interpreter in mental health situations, specifically where the client has been tortured.

Following the presentations a panel of four practitioners took questions from the flloor. The panelists were Arran Evans from Sussex Interpreting Services, Dr Angela Burnett of the Sanctuary General Practice for Asylum Seekers at City and Hackney Primary Care Trust, Dr Rachel Tribe of University of East London, also co-editor of Interpreting and Mental Health, and Frederick Dhiman, Psychiatric Interpreter with Leicestershire Partnership.

(right) guests at the WEA's first National Community Interpreting forum listen to Jill Gander's presentation on the role of community interpreters in mental health work.

Various subjects were under discussion during the day including training for coping with mental health situations and development of a Community Interpreting Level 4 Certificate - something the NCIP project team hope to get moving this year.

After questions to the panel and speakers, group divided into two workshops to consider Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and the dynamics of mental health interpreting.

The CPD workshop found that many people see a need for terminology updates, training about public service providers and their procedures, specialist knowledge and legislation updates. The NCIP team are commissioning training for Community Interpreting tutors based on some of these proposals and hope to be ready to deliver it later this year to those specialist tutors working nationally for the WEA.

In the Mental Health workshop people identified a need for support for interpreters who have experienced traumatic situations through their work. The group discussed the ways in which interpreters and mental health practitioners can work effectively together. In addition to practicing interpreters and health-related practitioners, WEA tutors were present along with current learners and representatives from London-based interpreting services including a number of London borough councils, Camden Primary Care Trust and Health First in Lewisham.

By the end of the forum it was suggested that the NCIP team extend the next forum to become a full day event and the NCIP are currently discussing ideas for future themes. If you work in the field or have an interest in Community Interpreting, you are invited send ideas and suggestion to the team by e-mail to ncip@wea.org.uk

Further information on the work of the group can be obtained from:

Ann Hayes or Natasha Eve
WEA National Community Interpreting Project
4 Luke Street
London
WC2A 4XW
Tel: 020 7613 7589
E-mail: ncip@wea.org.uk