Happy to Translate
Ochil View and Forth housing associations recently held a joint multi-cultural event at Raploch Community Campus, raising awareness of the pioneering Happy to Translate (HTT) language service.
Guests from Black and Minority Ethnic groups, Stirling & Clackmannanshire Councils, Central Scotland Police and the Central Scotland Racial Equality Council, heard speakers explain Happy to Translate, a service which aims ultimately to overcome language barriers, and enable good customer service to be provided to all, whatever their nationality.
Staff from both housing associations have been trained to use the Happy to Translate toolkit and intranet. This enables staff to determine the language spoken by the customer and the services required. Point pages can be downloaded from the intranet, and these enable staff and customers to have a conversation and most importantly, understand each other.
Priscilla Maramba, Central Scotland Racial Equality Council said:
"It is important to have initiatives like Happy to Translate which help effective communication and promote access to information, and services to all."
Guests were entertained by Indian and Chinese Dancers. Students from Raploch Community Campus prepared a buffet reflecting the nationalities in attendance.
Rohini Sharma Joshi, Housing Equal Opportunities Manager, HTT, said:
"It has been great to work with Forth and Ochil View on this multi-cultural partnership event. Forth and Ochil View are building links and trust with communities, through initiatives like HTT, and are demonstrating they are organisations which value diversity."
Pictured from left to right are speakers at the event: Gordon Mason, Chair, Forth Housing Association; Helena Buckley, Vice Chair, Central Scotland Racial Equality Council; Priscilla Maramba, Employment Development Officer, Central Scotland Racial Equality Council; Rohini Sharma Joshi, Housing Equal Opportunities Manager, Trust Housing Association and Teresa McNally, Chair, Ochil View Housing Association.