Community Engagement and Social Justice: Making a Difference Through Improving Communication Across Language and Culture in Mental Health and Community Settings

Community engagement and social justice sit at the heart of the University of East London’s pedagogical provision. The London Scholars scheme represents a flagship of this commitment through collaborations between students, staff, and the wider community. A key objective of the scheme is the provision of enriched learning experiences concerned with promoting a sense of civic responsibility, social inclusion, and active citizenship.

A London Scholars project on Bridging barriers – Equality and diversity: Making a difference through improving communication across language and culture in health and community settings was established. The training celebrated diversity and built upon the rich cultural heritages of our students. Past and present students with bicultural heritage and who were bilingual undertook training at the university and a community organization in working as an interpreter/community broker in health and social care settings. The program provided trained interpreters/cultural brokers to work within the community, thereby assisting in facilitating access (for people who were not fluent in English) to health and social care systems, thereby making a contribution to improving social inclusion and challenging marginalization.

While the students acquired knowledge and skills relating to working as an interpreter/cultural broker and obtained an understanding of health and social care systems, they also extended their professional networks, in addition to potentially enhancing their employability.