| Co-operative
Interpretation & Translation Agency - Article |
An early meeting of Article
co-op members |
Over the last year we have been assisting
a group of local social landlords (RSLs) led by Newlon Housing
Association to prepare a group of mainly refugee tenants to
set up and run an interpretation business. This business will
address the increasing local need for interpretation and translation
services in the fields of social housing, community economic
development and others. The prospect is that by training and
equipping local people actually based in their diverse client
communities, a quality, cost-effective and self-sustaining
service will emerge. We are currently incubating this as a
co-operative agency. Business planning is underway; work is
starting to trickle in, and the structures of incorporation,
management and promotion are in development. The target for
full independence is 2004/5.
Following an initial recruitment
drive and accredited training programme the project has retained
a committed and motivated core group of 9 tenants providing
translation / interpretation skills to Turkish, Kurdish, Punjabi,
Urdu, Amharic and Tigrignia speakers. We are keen to generate
a wider membership of this group.
Some key lessons from this exercise
will be reflected in a Good Practice Report and Seminar in
Spring 2004, making recommendations that can be shared with
RSLs across London.
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| 2 February 2004 |
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