Story by Camille Daughma
Within Sheffield there are over 100 languages and dialects used and within Burngreave there is a higher concentration of people who do not speak English and require assistance in order to access various services.
Burngreave Language Support Agency (BLSA) has recently begun a high level course – the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DiPSI). It is a recognised qualification equivalent to NVQ4 within the Institute of Linguists. The course is training local people so they can provide interpreting services to statutory, public, private and voluntary sectors in Burngreave and beyond.
I went to along to course and spoke to two students, Aminsafaei who speaks Farsi, Afghani and Dari, and Shakeela who speaks speak Urdu as a main language and Punjabi/Mirpuri which are Creole languages. Skakeela told me:
“These are my native languages which I learned in Pakistan. I first began interpreting in 1999 when I started working in the voluntary sector, now I want to take it up as professional job and help the community.”
Aminsafaei said:
“I learned my languages in Iran where I was educated, I took up interpreting about five years in order to do voluntary work and improve my vocabulary and to eventually work professionally.”
I asked whether either of them had a memorable experience where their skills had helped someone. Aminsafaei told me:
“I have recently been helping four clients who were housed by Sheffield Homes and with my intervention to interpret on their behalf I was able to improve their tenancy and gain improvements to their house.”
Shakeela recalled:
“I once had an Asian client was due in court but knew no English. He was very frightened and confused but when he saw me he was very happy to know that I understood him. I was able to interpret on behalf of the client and he was saved from being wrongly sentenced.”
Shakeela went onto encourage people to take up the course:
“If you are interested in becoming an interpreter you should take the DiPSI course, you will have the qualification you need and no barriers. It is nationally recognised.”
Once qualified they can be called on whenever there is a need for communication amongst people of different languages, to help people gain access to health, education or to be involved in the decision making process, lowering the chances of social isolation or exclusion.
To find out more about BLSA, its work and services, contact Abdullah Muharib on 272 2833, abdullah@blsa.co.uk, or visit their page on the New Deal website, http://bndfc.co.uk/getinvolved/ projects/blsa/.