Fáilte Isteach – older volunteers support language & integration needs of migrants, IPAs & refugees.

Description

Third Age works for, with, and on behalf of older people nationally. They work with the full spectrum of the older population from active volunteers to those in the later stages of life. They provide direct services and supports to older people who then become part of the solution to societal needs, continuing to contribute to their peers, and diverse population community groups.
Fáilte Isteach is a national programme of Third Age, and a community project that supports integration by welcoming migrants through free conversational English classes provided in a student centred welcoming and inclusive manner. They recruit, train and support older volunteers right around the county as Fáilte Isteach tutors.

Fáilte Isteach have a presence in all 26 counties of the republic with over 250 classes running weekly. They create an opportunity for 2,500 older people to provide a positive response to a growing need in Ireland and get involved in active citizenship as volunteer tutors supporting the integration of 7,680 newcomers from 88 nationalities weekly into our society – migrants, and international protection applicants who may be at risk of marginalisation due to their poor language skills.

Fáilte Isteach is committed to improving the integration and skills of migrants living in communities throughout Ireland. To live, survive and thrive in Ireland, English languages skills are essential. The groups provide a space for those who are isolated to connect; for perspectives to evolve; for attitudes to change. The informal, relaxed approach to learning allows some of the most marginalised and venerable in our society to engage with others and both integrate into life in Ireland and share their own culture and experiences.

Details of the locations of the classes is on the website, noted in the relevant section, below.

Fáilte Isteach not only benefits the students who attend our classes, it greatly benefits the older volunteers who engage. The health benefits of volunteering and active citizenship are well documented in terms of confidence building, raised esteem, sense of achievement, sense of worth, keeping the mind active and stimulated, life-long learning, not to mention social inclusion. We need social interactions as we age, to feel needed, and to be part of our communities. Fáilte Isteach is a national network of communities and older volunteers coming together to help and support migrants, IPAs and refugees within communities, reception and direct provision centres.

In 2022 along with the rest of the world we watched the unfolding situation in Ukraine. Fáilte Isteach responded to the influx of refugees within their existing network and opened an additional 75 classes during 2022 to meet demand. They recruited, trained and placed over 500 new volunteers (older people) within their network. Fáilte Isteach volunteer quote “I watched the situation in Ukraine unfold, and felt powerless to help, then Fáilte Isteach gave me an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way, to impact on what seemed an incomprehensible situation. Fáilte Isteach is the most impactful job I have ever taken on, I love it”.

Fáilte Isteach has created a library of tutor and students supports that cater for beginners, elementary, intermediate and advanced level students. Their programme provides tailored, accessible and free classes that are Irish centric. They focus on real life situations, and support learners to navigate our systems; health, employment, education, transport, etc. The lesson plans reflect what it is actually like to live and work in Ireland. They also provide a local focus, on colloquialisms, traditions, community life, pastimes. Fáilte Isteach provides support that empowers language. They support students in real-life situations; interviews, job applications, CV preparation, GP visits, greeting someone at the school gates, talking with teachers etc. They provide an open safe space for migrants to improve their language skills, to be accepted, to interact with other people from their own country and their new communities, to learn about and with one another. They are provided with support to live and thrive in Ireland.

In recent years we have seen a huge increasing in the numbers of refugees and IPAs fleeing their home countries. Failte Isteach have provided specialised training for volunteers (on trauma and conflict) to enable them to understand what their students have experienced, and to provide them with the skills to support their needs in a practical and sensitive manner.

An emerging trend in 2023 is the increase in numbers of older migrants and refugees in Ireland. Grandparents joining their children and grandchildren. Having predominantly older volunteers involved in the programme provides a unique peer-to-peer aspect to the support that they provide. Failte Isteach are supporting this transition to Ireland, as they did with their loved ones, they recognise the need to have other supports and services available and in place to support this older generation, and to keep expanding services to ensure that older migrants’ needs and this new demand are a priority in their classes.

Aim of Initiative

To support the language and integration needs of all migrants, International Protection Applicants and refugees (including those who are older) nationwide. To provide an Irish centric response to their needs. To encourage, facilitate and involve older people as volunteer tutors supporting and responding to a growing societal need, that of migrants, IPAs and refugees in Ireland. To promote the impact of volunteering and the importance of the contribution that older people can and do make to society through active citizenship and volunteering.

Who is it aimed at

Migrants, International Protection Applicants and refugees, from over 80 nationalities, in communities, direct provision and reception centres nationally. Older volunteers from all 26 counties of the republic who help to support the language and integration needs of the students. And more recently older migrants, IPAs and refugees who have come to Ireland. This initiative supports the communities in which the migrants and refugees find themselves, the programme benefits employers and local businesses, social and community groups, schools and sports groups. Failte Isteach provides migrants and refugees with the skills to live, thrive and contribute to their communities.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Third Age’s ability to innovate. The project began in 2006 at a pilot in Summerhill Village. This was a new venture for the organisation. They had several peer-to-peer volunteering projects, and a team of enthusiastic volunteers. It was a step into the unknown but their ability to innovate and take on new challenges created a successful pilot. In 2008 they put out a national call to see if there was a need for Fáilte Isteach in other communities. There was and today the project stands at over 250 classes nationwide in all 26 counties.
2. Building a team of staff and volunteers with the skills and drive to grow the project. The project quickly went from a local initiative to a regional and then a national programme. its success was due to the skills, talent and expertise of the staff and the drive and enthusiasm of the teams of volunteers nationwide. Third Age creates all of the student and tutor training materials and resources in house. They have developed a suite of resources for beginners, elementary, intermediate and advanced levels. Training and volunteer supports have also been designed and developed in-house.
3. Their ability to adapt and respond to new and emerging needs. Fáilte Isteach has been around since 2006, the project has evolved and adapted over the years to grow from a local initiative to the national programme that it is today. They are in constant contact with their volunteers, they carry out regular programme evaluations and reviews. This is important to remain ahead of emerging issues and needs. They update their resources and supports annually in response to these needs. During Covid-19 they adapted their model using increased technology, online training and CPD, to allow volunteers to safely provide supports to migrants online. They created a specially designed suite of digital supports to assist with this. They are constantly evolving, and responding to migrant and refugee needs. In 2022 they mobilised their national network to respond quickly to the influx of refugees from Ukraine. They opened a record breaking 75 new classes during the year, and are still responding to ongoing demand. In 2023 they are responding to the needs of older migrants within their classes, and have adapted their learner supports accordingly.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Recent challenges include responding to the huge increase in demand for our service. In a normal year they would open 10 new branches of the project. In 2022 the war in Ukraine created a massive influx of refugees who needed support. Fáilte Isteach has a well developed model that can be rolled out quickly to effectively meet the demands that arose. In 2022 they opened 75 new classes nationwide. The demand has continued into 2023, and they continue to respond to this need. They are fortunate to have an extremely competent and hard working team of staff and volunteers.
2. Cost of providing the service. In 2022 the need for the service rose dramatically. This need continues, and with it, it brings additional costs. The numbers of migrants and refugees supported each week has increased substantially. They need resources and teaching materials. This has created additional printing and dissemination costs. Failte Isteach have been fortunate to have secured additional funding from various sources to cover the majority of these extra costs.
3. Continuing to respond to changing demands in a changing and challenging environment. In recent years the project has dealt with a global pandemic, increasing numbers of students coming in having fled war and conflict, and a cost of living crisis. They have adapted and enhanced their service in the midst of these events. They have responded quickly to increased demand. They have created new support and training (particularly for supporting students who have experienced trauma or conflict). They have created new digital resources, and have updated our teaching materials and supports. Failte Isteach continues to listen to the teams of older volunteers on the ground, providing them with opportunities to share their experiences, their suggestions and to let Failte Isteach know the real issues facing migrants, IPAs and refugees in Ireland today. They continue to develop new and innovate responses to emerging needs in existing and new communities, and older people are at the heart of this response.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Benefits to migrants, IPAs and refugees including older migrants, IPAs and refugees. Fáilte Isteach supports and encourages migrants along their learning journey, building confidence and esteem through a student centred, practical and supportive learning environment. It improves
   language skills and proficiency. Their classes are designed to be delivered in a relaxed and informal manner, are suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, encourage sharing and learning, development of friendships and supports structures. Fáilte Isteach leads to a much greater holistic outcome for the learner – they widen their social network, they are given the opportunity to engage with the local community and to understand and play a role in the life of their new communities. Failte Isteach will support the integration of migrants, helping them navigate work, education, health systems and social life. Understanding the realities of conflict and the impact is essential to providing refugee learners with a safe and relaxed learning environment.

2. Benefits to older volunteers. Fáilte Isteach brings distinct and diverse groups together, supporting new migrants and refugees to interact with Irish citizens, their volunteers, and other nationalities of migrants. Their volunteers and migrant students learn and share, breakdown barriers, create friendships and understanding, all of which helps to build resilient communities. The actions of the volunteers are highlighting and emphasising the contribution that older people can and do make to society. Quashing negative stereotypes of older people through positive example which in turn helps to combat age discrimination. By its very nature Fáilte Isteach creates and nurtures intergenerational and intercultural solidarity, acceptance and understanding.

   They have a team of 2,500 volunteers nationally (which is still growing), working with and supporting the integration of migrants through the provision of currently 250+ classes weekly. Fáilte Isteach is a grassroots national movement, involving older people who provide a positive and practical social response to the growing xenophobia and racism that is becoming prevalent in Ireland and internationally, by helping migrants and refugees navigate Irish health employment and education systems.

3. Benefits to the community. Fáilte Isteach mobilises communities to support those who may be socially marginalised to integrate and to play a part in the towns and villages in which they live.
   Mutual learning, understanding and respect form the core ethos of the programme. They are inclusive, extend a welcome to all and work with migrants, with refugees, IPAs and in reception and direct provision settings. They help their learners to overcome the worst elements of physical isolation, in the welcoming learning environments they have created nationwide. In doing so they are providing training, supports and resources to host communities throughout Ireland to enable them to strengthen the social fabric of the towns and villages in which we operate and they live. Through the programme they are building stronger, more cohesive and more inclusive communities in all 26 counties of Ireland.

   They advertise the classes in businesses and encourage them to send employees to our groups to benefit them in the workplace and make them more effective employees; they also provide English language training supports to migrants in their employment needs – modules such as CV preparation, interviews, conducting job searches and understanding the Irish work context.