On 11th June, we were delighted to host our latest Community Interpreter Event at the Friends Meeting House in Brighton. This event followed the success of similar gatherings in Eastbourne and Worthing, and once again brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds to learn more about the vital role of Community Interpreting.
The purpose of these events is to connect with local communities, raise awareness about interpreting services, and share information on how to get involved. We were thrilled to welcome 23 attendees from across Sussex, who collectively spoke 18 different languages, a true reflection of the rich cultural diversity in Sussex.
The morning began with a briefing at 11am, led by Rosie, our Learning & Development Manager, and John, our Office Administrator. They provided an overview of why Community Interpreters are so important, how to register with SIS, the accredited training available, and how we deliver language support services at the heart of the community.
Shahreen Shebli one of our Directors was also on hand to contribute some of her vast knowledge and experience built during her 30 years at SIS.
We were also joined by two of our experienced Community Interpreters, Joanna Zander and Nergiz Arslan, who shared their personal journeys and professional insights:
“My journey with interpreting started when a friend told me I would do interpreting as a job as this way I could help and earn. At that time, I was raising my daughter and wanted to do something that helped people. I joined a community interpreting course and completed Levels 1, 2, and 3.
Soon after, I started working with SIS — and I love it. It feels like we are a big family. I do many different jobs with them: I’m a Community Interpreter, a Bilingual Community Navigator, a Bilingual Advocate, a Community Researcher, and a volunteer. I first trained as a Bilingual Community Navigator, then later did the advocacy course so I could help even more people in need.
What I enjoy most is that I learn something new every day. The job is never boring. I also love that I can go to different places, and sometimes I visit parks or explore new areas between jobs. You can’t do that if you’re stuck in an office all day!”
— Nergiz Arslan
“Since I started working with SIS, I noticed an increased number of patients in the physiotherapy department. It may well be due to the word of mouth with the community spreading that the interpreting services are available. This particular Polish community consists mainly of factory workers. Long shifts and repetitive physical tasks take their toll on their bodies. Knowing that they can access the service and receive treatment encourages more people from the community to get help which is within their entitlement.
It makes me very happy to see the increasing number of patients confident to make appointments in order to improve quality of their lives as they are able to express their needs and understand instructions for treatment.
My experience liaising with SIS is nothing but pleasure. The Team works to the highest standards, not only when it comes to professional tasks, but maintaining good relationships with everyone involved. The Team is like a well-oiled machine providing excellent communication, support and consideration to all – Service Users, Service Providers and Interpreters.”
— Joanna Zander
In the lead-up to the event, our team spent two days promoting the event across Brighton. We visited over 100 local businesses, including shops, restaurants, GP and Dental surgeries, and salons. Leaflets were distributed, and posters were placed in supermarkets and on community bulletin boards in bookstores to help spread the word.
After the Community Interpreters shared their experiences, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions. We rounded off the event with a relaxed session of networking and sharing food together.
We’re incredibly proud of the turnout and the enthusiasm shown by everyone who attended.
Events like these are a key part of our mission to build stronger, more inclusive communities through language support. We are working to hold our next event in Crawley later this year.
If you or someone you know would like to find out more about enrolling with SIS as a Community Interpreter get in touch or if you would like SIS to come and speak with members of your community about our services you can send us a message.
