Could you be Café Lingo’s next Co-ordinating Volunteer?

Local language group hopes to fill role by April

A local group which delivers free weekly English lessons for those who have settled on the Island, is searching for a new co-ordinating volunteer.

Café Lingo has been operating out of Promenade Methodist Church in Douglas since 2016.

Over the past seven years, approximately 500 individuals from more than 48 countries have attended the group, which is run entirely by 'enthusiastic, friendly volunteers'.

The group's principles are:

• to be respectful of other cultures and systems of belief
• to welcome strangers of any nationality, gender, age, faith or no faith whose native language is not English
• to teach adults English for free at weekly sessions which aim to be a balance of educational and social interaction
• to work as a team of volunteers whose spoken and written English is of a high standard
• to inform students about life on the Isle of Man, as well as Manx and British culture
• to give students opportunities to share their culture
• to balance essential and enrichment themes and promote social interaction.
• to signpost students as appropriate to Government departments (e.g. UCM, the Job Centre etc) charities, not-for-profit organisations, national, cultural and leisure groups
• to be supportive, non-judgmental and compassionate to all
• to safeguard the well-being of students and volunteers, and to report to the safeguarding officer any concerns

Karen Norton, who has been in post since its foundation, says the role goes beyond simply language skills:

You can find more details HERE.