Welcome to our Languages Café, and opportunity to meet, chat, drink tea and learn about the languages and cultures of Redbridge.

These fortnightly get-togethers will be an opportunity for you to learn about our local communities and connect (or reconnect) with some of our most widely spoken languages including Tamil, Urdu, Bengali, Romanian and British Sign Language. You will be welcomed with free, delicious food and drink and plenty of time to chat.

Local artist Sadia Ur-Rehman will help you to learn about the language through a fun, creative activity such as poster design, crafting and poetry. Each session will be supported by an experienced language expert to help you get the most out of the session.

• Friday 28 June and Friday 12 July – We celebrate Tamil
• Friday 26 July and Friday 9 August – We celebrate Hindi and Urdu With Maliha Haider and Anwer Sen Roy
• Friday 6 and Friday 20 September – We celebrate Romanian
• Friday 4 and Friday 18 October – We celebrate Bengali
• Friday 15 and 29 November – We celebrate BSL (British Sign Language)

Who is this for?

Anyone over 16 working, living or studying in Redbridge. No prior experience of the language is necessary – these workshops are designed to be fun and accessible for all skill levels.

What is the format of the workshops?

Each language will last for two sessions, and the cafe will be touring locations around Ilford, Wanstead and Fairlop. Please see dates for more details.

What will I get out of it?

You will learn the basics of a variety of different languages spoken in Redbridge, supported by a local language expert. Plus you will meet new people, eat some delicious, free food and have fun!

How to book?

Use the links on the right hand side of the page to book via Bookwhen or call us on 020 8708 2858 and choose option 4. For more information, email hello@colours.red. Booking guarantees you a space, but there will also be some spaces available first-come-first-served on the day.

How do I get there?

The Languages Café changes location each time. We recommend taking public transport where possible. The Cherry Tree Cafe is a 5 min walk from Wanstead underground station (Central Line). Bus routes 101, 308, 66, W12, W13 and 145 all have stops within 5-8 min walk. Plan your journey at tfl.gov.uk.

Access

All our activities are step-free with facilities such as accessible toilets. Most activities can be easily adapted for people with varying disabilities or neurodiversity. Please email us at access@colours.red to discuss your requirements.

About the Artist

Sadia Ur-Rehman is a visual artist based in Redbridge. She brings people together, creating encounters and making lasting connections. Recent projects use tea as a connector to bring people together over the shared experience of a good cuppa and chat to discover, explore and learn new things.