Last week, 21 refugees proudly donned caps and gowns to celebrate their graduation as qualified interpreters at a heart-warming ceremony in London, made possible by our InPower Project.

Graduates and the Clear Voice team came together to recognise the hard work and effort put in by the graduates and to celebrate their success at the first InPower Project graduation ceremony.

The InPower Project empowers refugees by enabling and fully funding their training as interpreters. This initiative not only provides participants with invaluable skills but also gives them hope and purpose during their studies, as well as opportunities for rewarding and flexible work once they qualify.

Clear Voice reinvests profits from its interpreting, translation, and accessibility services to fully fund this transformative programme. Once trained, graduates can become freelance interpreters and use their skills/knowledge/experience to provide interpreting services for Clear Voice's customers.

Helen Simmons, Social Value Manager at Clear Voice, expressed her pride in the graduates: “It was such a fantastic afternoon celebrating hope and new beginnings. Our students have been impacted by atrocities, devastating and threatening situations that have led to them fleeing their homes. They are showing bravery in their adversity and beginning new lives in the UK. InPower has given them a qualification that will allow them to gain work, integrate in the community and support other vulnerable people in their new lives in the UK. I feel honoured and proud to support the graduates who are graduating today.”

Ivonne, one of the graduates, had to flee El Salvador. She qualified as a professional Level 3 community interpreter and has been working as a freelance interpreter working with Clear Voice since.

She said: “I feel really happy. I feel really proud of all that I have achieved today. It is a great day for everyone: for Clear Voice, empowering people. For us, for those who are trying to make a life here in the UK, and for those who we serve as well. So it is a day for celebration, and I am happy.”