Summary
The first Visit
The first visit to On Your Side was an impromptu visit aimed at understanding what the organisation was about. My colleague and I ended up in a small café, where we were introduced to Maryann Wareke, the founder of the organisation. She explained the mission and services provided by On Your Side, highlighting how the organisation supports not only immigrants—by helping to bridge language and cultural barriers—but also children, young people, and other vulnerable individuals.
The services offered include English tutoring for non-English-speaking immigrants, assistance with medical queries and navigating healthcare services (including GP access), a safe space for children to socialise and participate in activities, signposting vulnerable individuals to appropriate support services, and access to donated clothing. This first visit was truly eye-opening and highlighted what an amazing and welcoming space the organisation provides.
Subsequent Visits
Weekday Visit –English Tutoring and Medical Support
During a weekday visit, I sat with approximately five to six adults who had come in for their regular English tutoring session. I participated in teaching English and also helped address some medical queries. One individual, a Romanian-speaking patient, had recently visited her GP for chronic back pain and was advised to call a number provided in a written note. However, she was unable to access the service due to language barriers and difficulty understanding the automated English response. I assisted by making the call and navigating the system, only to discover that she was already on a long waiting list. Fortunately, with guidance from my supervisor, the patient received better advice, including appropriate exercises and the option to book an appointment with the surgery’s physiotherapist. Other attendees raised symptom-related concerns, and I advised those individuals to see their GP for further assessment and examination where appropriate.
Afternoon Visit –Cancer Screening Education
The next visit was with a senior colleague as part of a cancer screening education project. We attended in the afternoon; however, the English tutoring session had already finished. We met two individuals who were previous owners of the building, and we discussed cancer screening with them. They were happy to become cancer screening champions. We also participated in a prize draw organised to raise funds for the organisation.
Rescheduled Visit –Cancer Screening Session
The third visit was rescheduled following the missed opportunity to deliver cancer screening education previously. On this occasion, six to seven individuals were present and were in the middle of their English session when we arrived. Fortunately, one attendee was able to translate between two to three different languages spoken by the group. While communication was not completely seamless, the presence of a translator significantly improved the session. We used simplified language and successfully conveyed all key cancer screening messages. At the end of the session, participants were awarded badges and certificates recognising them as cancer screening champions.
One important observation from this visit was that most attendees receive their screening invitation letters in English and often rely on others to translate or need to contact their GP to understand the content. We felt that providing screening letters in patients’ native languages could significantly improve accessibility and understanding. After the session, we addressed additional medical concerns and provided appropriate advice.
Click to start the slide show