The Our Languages project team has been awarded the Chartered Institute of Linguists Threlford Memorial Cup, in recognition of the excellent work it has been doing in fostering the study of languages in the UK.

The award was established by the IoL Educational Trust – an associated charity of the Chartered Institute of Linguists – and is awarded annually to individuals or institutions that have had an important impact in the languages world. It was thought that the work the Our Languages project has been doing in building relationships between mainstream and complementary schools, and celebrating community languages, was very worthy of such recognition.

Sarah Cartwright, Consortium Programme Manager of the Our Languages project, is delighted to accept the award: “This award recognises the achievement of all the Our Languages team: partner organisations, school clusters and the advisory group who have worked together over 2 years to promote the teaching and learning of community languages. But it also endorses the commitment of thousands of parents in the complementary sector across the country who support the bilingual education of their children. This diversity enriches us all.”

First presented in 1935 by Sir Lacon Threlford, Founder of the Institute of Linguists, the Cup was described as “the world's greatest trophy for fostering the study of languages” and “of marvellous beauty”.