Cassiltoun Housing Association’s Conversation Café was established based on feedback from Castlemilk Park New Scots Volunteers.
We co-designed the ‘Conversation Café’, where local volunteers and individuals learning English as a second language met in a local café to practise conversational skills over a shared meal.
Facilitated by a freelance ESOL tutor and featuring participant-led learning themes, the initial pilot proved to be highly successful.
In addition to the Conversation Cafe, we held:
Workshops (Monday Evenings): These community-led workshops include a sessional worker to run activities with the attending children, addressing barriers to participation.
Conversation Café & Connect (Thursday Afternoons): Our Community Lunch brings together community members, volunteers, other group participants, and Conversation Café attendees. It is a vibrant, friendly space where people can chat and share information about local events. Staff from across the Community Team are present to foster relationships, and many former Conversation Café participants attend to practise what they had learned in the Monday workshops.
Castlemilk Youth Complex
Glasgow South
April 2023 – November 2023
Male & Female Adult Refugees, Migrants, Asylum Seekers
Range of Employability Services, including employer engagement with placement and work experience, skills profiling and employer skills matrix.
The group of New Scots shared that, while they could attend ESOL classes, these often did not fully address their needs. They required more support in understanding the Glaswegian accent and in learning how to engage in conversations with key service providers, such as doctors and reception staff.
New Scots assisted in developing the project idea before its launch. At the start, we held a consultation workshop with the group to identify the topics they needed assistance with.
These topics were then incorporated into each session, with a suggestions box available for participants to propose ideas for upcoming workshops. The plan and topics were regularly reviewed and adjusted based on people’s needs.
The time and support provided by local people for this project was invaluable. Their knowledge of the area, Scottish history, and local dialect, combined with their kind and welcoming ethos, contributed significantly to the project’s success. Castlemilk is filled with individuals making a positive difference in their communities, and this group is a shining example of that spirit.
Before the project concluded, we conducted a survey with all participants, and the results were as follows:
The project faced several challenges, including informing the community about the opportunities to attend the Conversation Cafés.
There were also limited options for scheduling the workshops. Castlemilk has fewer venues available in the evenings, which are often the most suitable times for many people in our community due to work and family commitments.
Additionally, attendance fluctuated based on other priorities and transitions, such as school holidays and later work shifts.
To overcome the challenges we encountered, we:
Participants have connected well with other groups. In November 2023, we implemented the exit strategy, where staff involved in other projects conducted taster sessions for the group.
This initiative was designed to foster lasting relationships with other groups and reduce barriers to workshop attendance. Both volunteers and participants expressed a desire to continue the project, pending the availability of funding.
Contact:
Jodie Armour
Address:
Castlemilk Stables
59 Machrie Road
Castlemilk
G45 0AZ
Telephone:
0141 634 2673
