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21 Apr 2022 02:05 PM

Blog posted by: , 21 April 2022 – Categories: A Modern Civil ServiceA Skilled Civil ServiceAn Ambitious Civil ServiceAn Innovative Civil ServiceUncategorized.

Civil Services Languages Network

When the Civil Service Languages Network (CSLN) began in October 2020, Matt Brown and Hugo Griffin had no idea the network would become the success it is today.

The Spanish Network began with just five colleagues in DWP eating lunch together chatting in Spanish. When the first lockdown was announced, Fast Streamers Matt Brown and Hugo Griffin wanted to provide continuity for this small group and shifted activity online.

Rapid growth

Word quickly spread about the group. Matt and Hugo contacted colleagues in other departments to speak about their experiences using languages at weekly talks. In Summer 2020, the Spanish Network swelled to 400 members across government. At this point, the network was no longer a Fast Stream one but a Civil Service-wide one. 

By Autumn 2020, Matt and Hugo established the Civil Service Languages Network to cater for more languages and the broad appeal for interactive, intercultural talks. Alongside volunteers, they promoted the new language groups widely. Little did they know where all of this would take them!

Author: Emma Latham, Communications Lead

Seismic interest

Since October 2020, we’ve established 34 language groups from Arabic to Urdu, Bengali to Swedish and everything in between, as well as a Bilingual Parenting group. We now have more than 7,000 members across government, throughout the UK and overseas – comparable to a small department. To achieve this in under two years, all at home due to COVID-19, is no mean feat.

Our language groups are the main reason people get involved. Each group has dedicated language leads who are passionate about the language and facilitate the group’s activity. Each group runs speaker events, language tandems (coffee-roulette meetings with colleagues who speak that language to a similar standard) and informal conversation groups.

High-profile speakers

The CSLN team also organises wider network opportunities, such as cross-cutting talks which are always very well attended. Members hear regularly from civil servants and high-profile speakers about their experience of using language at work or their area of languages expertise. 

Past guests have included Deborah Bronnert, Sir Laurie Bristow KCMG, and Daniel Pruce. These events offer ways for our members to learn about international careers in the Civil Service and build their professional networks. Since COVID-19 restrictions have eased, CSLN has been organising popular in-person socials.

Strategic support

Being such a rich and active network, we’ve tapped into the linguistic and cultural expertise of our members to provide bespoke resources to departments and teams that need language skills.

In December 2021, we supported NHS England on the COVID-19 vaccine booster drive. Over 150 network volunteers provided video content and translations in 32 languages. We produced 50 videos in total, as well as a video montage which you can watch here

CSLN recently supported the design and promotion of the Government Skills and Curriculum Unit’s Language Capability Survey to map language skills across government and examine how these skills can be recognised, developed and deployed. Thanks to CSLN, the survey drew a huge response from more than 20 departments and ALBs.

Levelling up

Alongside other departments, the CSLN team and its enthusiastic volunteers visit schools and universities to run themed workshops encouraging students to learn languages and promoting their uptake at GCSE and A-Level. This work also supports the Prime Minister’s priority of Levelling Up.

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