Meet Sharon and Tony, Conversation Club volunteers

The Conversation Club is a long-running project in Waltham Forest, run entirely by volunteers, who host regular sessions for residents who want to build their confidence in speaking English. 

Sharon runs a Conversation Club at Walthamstow Library every Wednesday lunchtime, and Tony runs one at Leytonstone Library on Wednesday evenings. Sharon and Tony have both been volunteering for three years. 

The Conversation Clubs are open to everyone and provide a welcoming, sociable space. They offer a regular point of contact for many, including migrants, refugees, people seeking asylum and people who have lived in the borough for some time but have had limited opportunities to practise English. 

Sharon says: 

“I started volunteering after I finished work. I did a course on the Conversation Club and really enjoyed it, especially learning new strategies for working with people. 

“I feel I understand the students who come along, and it’s been lovely to work with them. I enjoy seeing them grow, going from quiet people who didn’t say much, even though they clearly understood a lot of English, to becoming more confident, asking questions, and opening up in the group. It’s really rewarding to watch.” 

Tony says: 

“I see a lot of support for each other here, it’s a great example of diversity, with people from very different backgrounds all helping one another. It’s impressive to see the empathy and support they offer each other.” 

Many of the people who go to the Conversation Club attend for years, while some join regularly for a short time.  For example, if they’re new to the country, before starting work.  Having a place to come at the same time every week and seeing the same faces, means a community is built up around it.  

Sharon explains:  

“It’s a community where everyone helps each other.  What a lot of people who come here find difficult is that they don’t believe they speak very well.  But if we sit back, and create a safe space, it gives them the confidence to go out there and speak.  I’m really proud of them, when they’ve done so much, and they think it’s so little.” 

Residents who attend the Conversation Club report increased confidence and ability to interact with and navigate key touch points in their daily lives such as speaking with teachers at their children’s school, talking to their GP or attending A&E without fear of not being understood.  Many go on to complete English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses and feel empowered to apply for a wider range of jobs.    

The Conversation Club project has been running in Waltham Forest for several years and provides people who want to volunteer with training so they can feel confident to lead conversation clubs effectively across the Borough.  The Conversation Club volunteers form a network and have regular catch ups with each other to share learning and techniques.   

The Conversation Clubs depend on people volunteering to keep running and are always looking for new volunteers.  If this is something you would be interested in hearing more about, click on the link below to find out more.