BSL interpreting

Sign language services

BSL British Sign Language (BSL) is the sign language used in the UK to communicate with deaf or hard-of-hearing people.  It is a language of space and movement using the hands, body, face and head. There are approximately 70,000 deaf people in the UK whose preferred language is BSL. If a person’s first language is BSL, then English will be their second language, and written material may not, therefore, be easily understood. 

Under the Disability Discrimination Act, organisations and businesses are legally obliged to look at how they provide access to their services for deaf people, for example, by hiring a professional sign language interpreter.

Cintra can help you communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Our BSL interpreters are highly qualified and skilled professionals with many years' experience, including working in demanding or stressful circumstances.

For people with a loss of vision as well as hearing we can provide qualified interpreters specialising in

Hands on signing, where the deaf person will put their hands on the interpreter’s hands, to feel the movement of the signing.

Visual frame signing, which may be preferred by people who have lost peripheral vision.

Deaf blind manual, which may be used by people with little or no sight, but good English skills.

As there are not enough qualified BSL interpreters in the UK to meet the demand, we advise you to book a BSL interpreter as soon as you know you'll need one.  BSL is a complex, physical language, so we recommend you to book two interpreters for appointments exceeding two hours.

For more information on how we can help you with your interpreting and translation needs, call us on 01223 346870 or send us an enquiry.