An innovative app which assists organisations when communicating with those whose first language isn’t English has been praised by first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Ms Sturgeon met with Rohini Sharma Joshi, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) manager at Trust Housing Association, at her constituency office in Govanhill to discuss the Association’s Happy to Translate app.

The Glasgow Southside MSP said: “I’m very pleased to support this project and I think it can make a real difference overcoming barriers to communication. It’s important that people are able to access information and services they are entitled to. Improving communication will not only benefit service users, it will help service providers as well and result in a better experience for all.”

The first minister represents an area of Glasgow city which has a rich tapestry of ethnic communities from diverse cultural backgrounds, speaking a multitude of languages. Ms Sturgeon told Rohini, who is manager of Happy to Translate, that there were up to fifty languages spoken in her constituency’s local primary schools alone.

After the visit, Rohini said: “It was a pleasure meeting with Nicola Sturgeon again, not in her role as first minister, but as the public representative of her constituents, many of whom struggle with English, particularly when faced with complex issues. It’s clear by Ms Sturgeon’s response to Happy to Translate, that she and her staff are committed to equality and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure all members of her constituency feel they are valued and included in Scottish society.”