IPad Welcome Kiosks are the new practical tool to help newcomers adapt into the city. These kiosks can translate information to more than 40 languages and it also shows them job opportunities, how to enroll their children in school, and even how transportation works.
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“When someone new arrives to London, there may be an area where there is no settlement services accessible to them. With these kiosks, they can do some navigation and find information about where they can get services in the city,” says the city’s immigration specialist Emily Low.
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Currently, the city has installed two kiosks. One at City Hall and one at Bostwick Community Centre because there is no settlement services available in those locations.
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“This is just to help with the transfer of information and make it accessible to them so they don’t feel so alone, and to really feel integrated and welcomed.” adds Low.
Photo courtesy: City of London
Newcomers face a number of obstacles when moving into a new city. Some of them are language barriers, unfamiliar neighbourhoods and lack of knowledge of available services. All that can contribute to a feeling of isolation and loneliness.
The Kiosks, which are free of charge, are part of London’s Newcomer Strategy pilot project in an effort to help remove barriers to accessing services in the city.
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“There is tons of newcomers that make up London’s population and everybody is contributing and it making the city more diverse.”
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Low also says that they city is happy to announce London’s first Newcomer Day that will take place on October 10th.
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This will be a partnership between the city and the Central Public Library to offer information fairs, city services, social services, and celebrate newcomers in the forest city.
