The boroughs of Oldham, Rochdale, and Tameside are linguistically diverse, with many residents speaking languages other than English as their main language at home. In Rochdale, over 80 different spoken and written languages are used across the borough. In Oldham, around 25,000 residents reported a main language other than English in the 2021 Census.
At Action Together, we know that volunteering should be accessible to everyone who wants to get involved but language can be a barrier to accessing opportunities, even when volunteers are bringing valuable skills and experience.
In July 2026, Volunteer Managers from across Oldham, Rochdale, and Tameside met at our quarterly Volunteer Coordinator Forum to discuss how we can make volunteering more accessible, with a focus on language.
The discussions at forum have informed a new Factsheet, download your copy via the link below, or you can access this and other factsheets in our Volunteer Manager Zone.
Case Study: Rochdale Foodbank
At Rochdale Foodbank, volunteers support the smooth running of the service through a range of roles. Foodbank Assistants take on a wide range of tasks, from stocking shelves, packing bags in readiness to give to the customers, checking client information, inputting data into ICT systems and processing vouchers. Front of House volunteers meet and greet clients, chat with them, make them a drink and can signpost them to extra support. Volunteer Drivers transport food donations between collection points and the foodbank hub. Warehouse volunteers sort and store donations.
Across all these roles, language barriers can come up for volunteers. Reading vouchers and picking orders requires a basic level of literacy, and using ICT systems requires a higher level of literacy. Speaking with clients requires a level of understanding and speaking skills in both English and a wide range of locally spoken languages.
Rochdale Foodbank are committed to making volunteering accessible and for their volunteers to be representative of the diverse communities that the Foodbank serves each day.
To help overcome language barriers, Rochdale Foodbank gets to know volunteers to understand their interests, any barriers they may face, and what volunteering role would work best for them. They have successfully paired volunteers who face language barriers with a buddy who can support them with reading, writing, or speaking. The buddy system helps to build confidence, relationships and skills for both volunteers involved. The Foodbank also makes use of the multi-lingual resources on the Trussell Trust’s Assemble platform to provide information in different languages.
The Foodbank recognizes the immense value of volunteers who speak multiple languages in providing an inclusive and accessible service to their clients. One volunteer, Fozia, joined the foodbank as a Front of House volunteer. Initially, she was shy and found speaking with strangers challenging. Fozia is bilingual in English and Urdu; the team at the Foodbank nurtured and encouraged her to use her language skills to support clients at the foodbank. Since volunteering, her confidence has grown and she has flourished.
