Use of the Language Line means our staff can provide housing, tenancy, and accommodation information to our service users without miscommunication, meaning that beneficiaries fully understand their contracts and agreements, what services are available to them and any other relevant and important information. Beyond this, we have also learned that the Language Line has increased the confidence and wellbeing of our service users, who tell us that being able to effectively communicate has helped them feel welcome, valued, and has enabled them to participate more fully in wider services provided by YMCA Cardiff, such as employment workshops, skill building, training and social activities. On average, 63% of our supported accommodation service users do not speak English as their first language; without the Language Line, this results in communication difficulties and barriers to inclusion for our beneficiaries, preventing them from fully engaging with service provisions. The Language Line provides interpreters for over 100 different languages including French, Mandarin, Somali, Sudanese, and Arabic and over the past year, has been accessed 367 times, totalling 7461 minutes of immediate, real-time interpretation.

Please consider supporting us to raise funds for this critical service which, due to funding challenges, is now in jeopardy for the next 6 months whilst we await the outcomes of grant applications which could sustain the Language Line for 2 years.

Thank you!