New Women’s Aid service for immigrants

The Translation Service is available in 8 languages

Are you working with a female immigrant experiencing domestic violence who has difficulty speaking English?

In September, Women’s Aid launched a translation service for women experiencing violence or abuse in the home. The service is provided over the phone via the organisation’s helpline (1800 341 900) which is open from 10am-10pm seven days a week.

Women’s Aid provides support to community organisations nationwide to deal with violence against women and receives funding through the LCDP. Said Laura Shehan of Women’s Aid: “CDPs and LDCs often serve as a first point of contact for women experiencing domestic violence and our national helpline is a resource to workers in the Programme where they can refer women on to receive support and information from a front-line service."

She added: “The new translation service gives all our helpline support workers the ability to connect women with limited or no English to an accredited and professional translator. They can facilitate the conversation between the woman and the support worker, that the woman can access support and information appropriate to her needs."

Addressing an appeal to community workers to use, Ms Shehan pointed out that the service is available in a few easy steps:

1. You or the woman can call 1800-341-900

2. When a support worker answers the phone, state the language she wishes to communicate in.

3. Wait for a moment on hold while we connect to a translator

4. The woman may then speak to the helpline worker about her situation, via the translator on the line.

WEBSITE IN 8 LANGUAGES

If community workers are wondering how else Women's Aid can also provide community workers with leaflets in seven languages covering domestic violence and the services available.

The website, www.womensaid.ie is also translated into eight languages (including Irish). In addition, there are resources available on the website to inform your best practice with minority ethnic women experiencing domestic violence.