Project Report: Impact of Bilingual Advocacy Support Service (2024–2026)

Organisation: Vandu Languages
Funded by: East Sussex County Council (ESCC) & Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Project Overview

Between 2024 and 2026, Vandu Languages delivered an Informal Wellbeing and Mental Health Support Project aimed at improving access to mental health services for ethnic minority communities, including a targeted focus on Ukrainian nationals under the Homes for Ukraine programme.

The project was designed to address barriers to accessing mental health support, provide early and informal intervention, improve understanding of mental health services, and strengthen pathways into formal care.

Support was delivered through Bilingual Advocates and Outreach Workers, who worked directly with individuals over 5–6 tailored sessions.

Service Delivery Model

The project adopted a bilingual advocacy approach in which clients were matched with a Bilingual Advocate who spoke their native language, understood their cultural context, and provided both emotional and practical support. This support included informal mental health conversations, assistance with practical issues such as housing, benefits, and appointments, as well as advocacy in communications with services including GPs and Universal Credit. Advocates also focused on building clients’ confidence and empowering them to navigate systems more independently.

Where higher-level support was required, clients were referred to organisations such as Counselling Plus, Health in Mind, and other appropriate statutory or voluntary organisations. Importantly, Bilingual Advocates continued to monitor the referral process to ensure continuity of care and ongoing support throughout the client journey.

The project maintained a strong community presence through regular attendance at Sanctuary drop-in sessions in Eastbourne and through collaboration with a range of community partners. These included community centres, migrant support services, the Bexhill Ukraine Hub, the Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Team, Through Care services, and local GP practices.

A key strength of the project was its partnership working, particularly with the Links Project and Counselling Plus. These strategic partnerships enabled streamlined referral processes, improved communication between services, and better coordination of client support journeys.

Impact and Outcomes

The project significantly improved access to services by reducing language barriers, increasing awareness of available support, and helping clients attend appointments and engage more effectively with systems and services. By providing early and informal intervention, the project also helped prevent the escalation of mental health issues, reducing stress and isolation while ensuring that clients received timely support before reaching crisis point.

Clients reported increased confidence and independence as a result of the support they received. Many felt more confident in expressing their needs, demonstrated a greater ability to navigate systems independently, and showed improved decision-making capacity. The culturally sensitive approach further enhanced emotional wellbeing and social connection by reducing feelings of isolation, increasing clients’ sense of belonging, and strengthening emotional resilience.

Client Testimonials

“The Bilingual Advocacy support has had a very positive impact on me. Without this help, I would not have been able to attend important appointments, communicate with Universal Credit, or understand medical decisions… I now feel more informed, emotionally supported, and connected to the right services.”“The first two-hour discussion made me feel understood and helped me identify my needs… I feel empowered to seek help for my mental health.”

“With your support and advice, I could understand and find my path; my life has changed, and my family is more relaxed.”

“I was so happy to know that somebody from my culture who speaks the same language could help me… I now better understand my problems and what to do.”

“The Bilingual Advocate’s involvement has boosted my morale, courage, and independence.”

Key Learnings

The project highlighted that:

Language-specific support is critical in mental health access
Trust and cultural understanding significantly improve engagement
Addressing practical life challenges directly impacts mental wellbeing
Ongoing support during referrals improves outcomes
Community-based, informal approaches are highly effective for early intervention

More about Vandu Languages

At Vandu, we specialise in community interpreting, bilingual advocacy, and culturally sensitive translating services. We work closely with local authorities, healthcare providers, and community organisations to ensure language is never a barrier to accessing rights or support. Our interpreters and translators don’t just know the words—they know the people, the context, and the community realities.

Essential features of Vandu:

People-first approach to every interaction
Cultural understanding embedded into all services
Ethical and trauma-informed practices in sensitive settings
Support for underrepresented and minoritised languages

Further Information and Resources

To know more about Vandu Languages, please visit our website at www.vandu.co.uk.
For booking interpreters, you can email us at info@vandu.co.uk or call us at (+44) 01273473986.
For requesting translations, please email translations@vandu.co.uk.
For more information about Vandu Training, please visit our website at www.vandutraining.com. Beyond our training and courses, we also offer EDI consultancy for teams and organisational leaders. You can contact Vandu Training via email at training@vandu.co.uk.

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