It’s not surprising the Chatty Corner is so successful since we now have around 35 amazing volunteers giving up their time to help our visitors. What’s more, we have a few younger volunteers including two teenagers doing work experience with us and a young mum who comes along with her baby. We are so grateful to all these incredible people.
Most of the volunteers attended a training session in February and it was a good chance for everyone to get together and share ideas too. Those who couldn’t be there have since had the chance to be trained by Anne during Educafe time.
It’s hard to estimate how many chatters come as they don’t all come every time but there are usually over 40 each week. We have visitors from over 15 different countries and ranging in age from 16 to somewhere around 70.
The chatters’ ability and requirements vary greatly but our wonderful volunteers are always ready to adapt. Over the last few weeks we have helped with housing, finding support for a mother with an autistic child, studying for the Life in the UK test, speaking and listening exams as well as the driving theory test. We’ve also helped chatters find employment either paid or voluntary, encouraged them to go to formal English classes and join the library to borrow books or use other resources.
We have all been very happy to see a group of ladies from Morocco, Afghanistan and Iran attending the chair yoga sessions on Wednesdays. This is hugely beneficial for them and so lovely to see their smiling faces while they are stretching and exercising.
Two of our long-standing chatters have been volunteering in the cafe. One lady from Ukraine was somewhat lacking in confidence but we have seen her shine while handing out cakes on a Wednesday. She has also found paid work in Newbury which she was struggling with until one of our volunteers went job hunting with her. Moreover, she passed her speaking and listening exam after having some help with it in the Chatty Corner. This has all been a big boost to her confidence and the results are obvious.
Recently two groups of chatters were accompanied to concerts at the Corn Exchange which were part of Newbury Spring Festival. This is an amazing enrichment activity which hopefully will encourage them to use that facility again in the future.
All in all, it’s been an outstanding few months in the Chatty Corner and whilst the summer break will be appreciated, we’re all looking forward to being back in September.
