The document outlines a project aimed at transferring a successful interpreter training program from the UK to partner countries within the EU to enhance public service accessibility for non-native speakers. Over 24 months, the project will adapt and pilot a 36-hour training course, focusing on developing an EU training course for interpreters to ensure better quality service. Key partners include various organizations from Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, and Greece, with plans for meetings and evaluations to discuss pilot training outcomes and future improvements.

1. To be effective,
interpreters need to
be fluent in two
languages but also
know the values and
approach of being a
good interpreter.
The idea of the pro-
ject is to transfer a
successful interpreter
training programme
from the UK to
partner countries.
One of the key
principle of the
European Union is the
right to move and
reside freely within
the EU, this enables
citizens to acquire new
skills for new jobs.
For this to be possible
people need to have
sufficient confidence
to access public
services and
information in the
local language.
Until an individual is
fluent in the language
of the country they
are living in,
interpreting can play
an important role in
breaking down
barriers
The Idea
The Aim
The project aim is to
transfer the
methodology of
training interpreters
to assist individuals
with languages.
In the 24 months of
the project the
objectives will be to
develop an EU training
course for
interpreters through
the adaptation,
transferal and
piloting of the
interpreter training
programme developed
in the UK.
Dacorum Council For Voluntary Service
(working name Community Action
Dacorum)
Leonardo Da Vinic programme Transfer
of Innovation - Language Interpreting
Training a stepping stone to work
Summary
The Idea
The Aim
The course
Meetings
Pilot Training
Next Stage
The future
Date : November
Partners :
UK Lead partner :
Dacorum Council for Voluntary service
www.communityactiondacorum.org.uk
Other partners :
RUNI Center (Bulgaria) :
www.runicenter.com
Iberika ( Germany) :
www.iberika.de
Danilo Dolci (Italy) :
www.danilodolci.org
Active Citizens Partnership (Greece) :
www.activecitizens.eu

2. Dacorum CVS has
developed a training
course through its
Herts Interpreting and
Translation Service to
train interpreters to a
professional standard.
The starting point for
developing the course
was research in 2001
which showed the need
for better access to
quality interpreters by
public services in
Dacorum, UK.
Two training courses
were developed, a short
course of 36 hours and
a longer course of 120
hours. It is the 36
hour course which we
are transferring.
Provided an opportunity
for students to
network with other
cultures/backgrounds.
The feedback was very
positive, and students
enjoyed and asked
about further training
and longer courses,
In September-October
2013 pilot training
course was delivered by
each partner to up to 12
students.
The training was based
on the 36 hr course and
presented locally.
maybe based on the
longer 120hr course.
The training course
The Pilot training
ing outlined.
• Management of
finances discussed
and agreed.
• External Evaluator
selected.
2nd meeting Hemel
Hempstead, UK,
2013 :
• Training & course
material was given
to trainers.
• Observation of the
training delivered by
Ian McKenzie who
conducts the training
in the UK.
• Management aspects
covered.
An external evaluator
was present and feed-
back was provided
How the project has developed so far
So far the partners
have had 2 meetings:
Palemo, Italy, 2012 :
• Partners
introduction and
each partner shared
their work.
• All action points
were agreed.
• Work Packages were
discussed
• Short course train-
Page 2
“The purpose of the
European Year of
Citizens is to facilitate
Union citizens’
exercising their right
to move and reside
freely within the EU by
ensuring they can easily
access information
about their rights.”

3. The next stage of the
project is a meeting in
Athens in January
2014. The aim of the
meeting is
• Report back on pilot
training sessions.
• The tutors to attend
and present on the
1st pilot training/
feedback.
• Discuss what can be
improved or
amended for the
next pilot training
course.
• Discuss and start to
develop e-learning
programmes as an
end result/tool.
• Look at the exploita-
tion strategy how to
sustain the project
after 2yr funding.
The external evaluator
will be present at this
meeting to share their
findings.
The Next Stage
Websites : www.communityactiondacorum.org.uk
www.interpretertraining.eu
by each partner after
the 2nd pilot.
In the 2nd half of
2014, there will be a
final meeting and
conference in Berlin,
Germany. The aim is to
conclude the project
and present the final
tools. The external
evaluator will present
their finding, along with
a summary of the
internal evaluation.
A final report will be
produced in Nov 2014.
The future
Beyond 2014, in the 1st
half of the year, each
partner will recruit 12
students for a 2nd pilot
training course of
36hrs to be held. The
e-learning options will
be presented as a
forum, so the
experience can be
discussed. A feedback
report will be prepared
Page 3
“Interpreter
training as a
stepping stone
to work”