Some of the linguists from the Language Shop
a service is ready to leave the council, it will be helped to build the commercial expertise of staff and find potential new customers. There will also be strong safeguards to protect taxpayers’ money. An early success story is Newham’s Language Shop, which provides translation and interpretation services in more than 100 languages to clients across the public sector. The business started out as a council service, but today 93 per cent of its work is with other clients. Among its linguists is Yasmin Yakoob, who speaks Punjabi and Urdu. She has worked with the Language Shop for eight years. It allows her to combine her time with looking after her three children. She said: “I love working with the Language Shop because my bookings are local. “It’s a rewarding job because when you
finish bookings, clients always say they couldn’t have managed it without you. We work with older people, children and people of all ages.” Nazibun Nessa and Samiya Khanom both translate Bengali, and two of the dialects associated with the language, Sylheti and Dhaka. Nazibun has been with the Language Shop for four years. She said: “I used to translate for my family but they said I should see if I could get paid for doing it. My children are grown up so I thought it would get me out of the house. The fact that I’ve made a difference is my biggest reward.” Samiya began working for the Language Shop in 2014. She said: “All of us seem to build a bond of trust through a common language.”
Businesses or organisations that need the services of the Language Shop, can call 020 3373 4000, visit www.languageshop.org or email bookingsnls@newham.gov.uk To find out about the New Deal for residents visit www.newham.gov.uk/newdeal
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