The announcement made by Equalities Minister Jane Hutt, will help make social inclusion and access to services a reality for 3000 people who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first or preferred language in Wales. Currently BSL users face delays for anything up to eight weeks to secure a BSL interpreter for a visit to their doctor or to access other vital services.

Catrin Fletcher, Director of RNID Cymru, the largest charity representing the 475,000 deaf and hard of hearing people in Wales, says: "This announcement is wonderful news for sign language users in Wales. The scheme will make social inclusion a reality for sign language users by dramatically increasing the number of BSL interpreters.

"This is a really good illustration of the difference that can be made by government and the voluntary sector working together. RNID Cymru welcomes the Minister's announcement of Welsh Assembly Government support for BSL Futures. We wholeheartedly support the scheme."

RNID Cymru leads the partnership, with other deaf organisations in Wales.  The partnership is in the process of recruiting its first 10 apprentice interpreters.  
 
The scheme will provide each apprentice interpreter with a bursary and an individually tailored, fully supported training programme that will result in their registration as a freelance professional interpreter.  It will also:

· Train more BSL tutors to teach the language at the highest levels;
· Support colleges across Wales to develop their BSL course provision;
· Develop a postgraduate course in BSL/Spoken Language interpreting;
· Support public service providers in Wales to develop the capacity to deliver services in BSL.

Professional interpreters allow BSL users quicker and better access to services such as the NHS, the police and local authorities.  Having to read, write or lipread a second spoken language, such as Welsh or English, in which they may have limited literacy, often leaves BSL users with poor access to information.

Making the announcement at Legal and General, Cardiff, who employ BSL users, Jane Hutt said: “Today’s announcement is a major step forward in promoting social inclusion.  The problems people can face if there aren’t interpreters available cannot be underestimated.  There are recorded cases where sign language users have faced severe difficulties in reporting crimes; and where sign laguage users have had to communicate with health staff in inappropriate and undignified situations.

"Often a sign language user has to wait up to eight weeks to secure an interpreter to see their GP, or discuss their child’s education with a teacher or question a neighbour’s planning application.  This cannot be right.

"That’s why we want to invest to increase the number of interpreters and are funding the scheme, BSL Futures.  The funding will provide 36 posts for Apprentice Interpreters to train and get their qualifications.  It will support a further nine trainee interpreters with grants to access courses.  This is the first scheme of its size in the UK.

"Social inclusion and accessible services for sign language users are enormously important equality issues.  This initiative will make a real difference.  It’s an example of just one of the innovative ways in which the Assembly Government is tackling social inequality in Wales." 

BSL Futures is funded by £1.6m from the Assembly Government and £1.1m match funding from the European Social Fund.