Download INTERAGENCY INTERPRETATION SERVICES PROJECT

Project supported by the PEACE III
Programme managed for the Special EU
Programmes Body by Donegal County
Council
INTERAGENCY INTERPRETATION
SERVICES PROJECT
Managed by Donegal County Council
and delivered by Inishowen
Development Partnership
PARTNERS
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Donegal County Council
HSE
Gardai
VEC
Donegal County Childcare Committee
Peace III Partnership
Citizen’s Information Board
Project Focus
The focus has been on
• Collaboration
• Consolidation
• Capacity Building
This has involved:
• Exploring need, barriers, existing
services and approaches.
• Building capacity of people who
want to train as community and
court interpreters (23)f
• Building capacity of those who
are interpreters (47) including
those trained under IDP and HSE.
• Capacity building of front-line
staff of information and service
providers on ‘working well with
interpreters’ (40).
Findings
Some observations as follows:
• Language barrier still exist - there is still a need across Co
Donegal for interpretation amongst those who are resident
and working here, seeking asylum and have refugee status.
• Many people where English/Irish is not their first language
do not know who/how to ask for interpretation and feel
they will have to pay for it
• While there are national/local contracts in place with some
agencies this is not always offered, advertised or available
• Some people ask their children or friends or family
members to interpret for them
• Many people who have some interpreting experience do
not feel they have the skills base or capacity
Feedback on Project
Feedback included:
• Expanded view on when interpreting would be
needed/beneficial
• Benefits of professional approach and clear boundaries
• Clear need for capacity building and awareness raising
addressed but more to be done
• Skills base available that needs to be further developed
and supported - need to support, networking, debrief,
build capacity, provide guidelines, etc for interpreters
• Self-employment opportunities and supports available
through partner services such as LCDP
Some comments
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‘Eye-opener’
Information on range of options
Importance of professionalization
Need for confidentiality, quality
Willing to be involved in follow-on workshop
When is an interpreter needed........
Some examples
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Employment information at FAS or the Job Club
Education Support through VEC
Garda Station – being charged or questioned
Court Appearance
Citizen’s Information
Social protection/CWO
Asking consumers about their needs – focus groups
Health appointment
Emergency situation
Parent teacher meetings
Going forward
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This has been an investment in human resources,
offering capacity building, awareness raising, change
of attitudes and removing historical barriers.
Partnership established
Collaborative working
Joined up interagency approaches
Removing barriers
Investing in building cultural diversity
Development of capacity of organisations and
individuals
Opening doors and raising awareness
Proposal
Interreg application with DCoCo
• A joined up approach makes a good business case
– developed further and supported under EU cofinance and run as a social enterprise with
resources used to cover costs and continue to
build capacity.
• Consensus?