Community food growing professionals and community volunteers are finding out how to engage more people from diverse cultures in sustainable production whatever their language.

Working Across Languages and Cultures at the Women's Library on 15 November explores how to cross languages  to increase access and involvement from all communities.

Co-ordinating the event Caroline Fernandez of Women's Environmental Network said, "Community workers want help in overcoming language differences when working with diverse cultures in sustainable food production. WEN has been working in this field for many years and we hope that the report which will result from this event will be helpful to growing groups and NGO’s working throughout the UK."

Speakers, Jane Robinson from Bradford Community Environment Project and Sufia Alam, Manager of Wapping Women's Centre and Chair of the Muslim Women's Collective in Tower Hamlets will draw on their extensive experience. Focused discussions will investigate ideas and good practice.

The report, which will be available by the end of the year, will feed into the Sustainable Production in Active Neighbourhoods (SPAN) action learning project, funded by Defra, through the Environmental Action Fund.

ENDS

For further information or to arrange an interview with a speaker or participant, please contact:
Caroline Fernandez, Women’s Environmental Network on 0787 6777327 or 020 7481 9004
e-mail: carofern@dsl.pipex.com

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) is a national charity and membership organisation which campaigns on environmental and health issues from a women’s perspective. WEN educates, informs and empowers women and men who care about the environment.

2. Sustainable Production in Active Neighbourhoods (SPAN) is a partnership consisting of Community Composting Network, Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, Garden Organic, Permaculture Association and Women’s Environmental Network. www.spanpartnership.org.uk

3. The event is 10.30-3pm at the Women’s Library, London Metropolitan University, 25 Old Castle Street, London E1 7NT.

4. Jane Robinson, Bradford Community Environment Project, works extensively with South Asian women and children. She co-ordinated Bradford communities’ input to the Plant Cultures project (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).

5. Sufia Alam, Centre Manager of Wapping Women’s Centre is Chair of the Muslim Women’s Collective in Tower Hamlets.