TWO deaf campaigners walking from Gloucester to London to raise awareness about the lack of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters used for UK government briefings, will be visiting Melksham next week.
The campaign ‘Where is the interpreter’ is demanding that Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes “urgent” action to make all televised government briefings accessible to the deaf people whose first language is BSL.
The campaign has praised the Scottish and Welsh parliaments for using BSL interpreters alongside their public briefings. But in England, BSL interpreters are not present at briefings, and BSL users have to rely on news outlets such as the BBC, adding interpreters to the broadcast.
Lynn Stewart-Taylor and Mark Hodgson will begin their walk from Gloucester on Saturday 3rd October, and they hope to pass through Melksham on the 7th or 8th October.
The march will end on Friday 16th October, where the pair will deliver a letter to No.10 Downing Street demanding that a BSL interpreter be “live and on platform” for all government briefings.
The ‘Where is the interpreter’ campaign says, “Thousands of deaf people including children, are missing out on vital life-saving information. Coronavirus briefings and information from the government have not been made accessible to the deaf community.
“Deaf communities rely on information in their first or preferred language of British Sign language (BSL). The UK government has not provided any access to this vital information since the start of the pandemic.”
Local deaf man, Matthew Fenlon, added, “Scotland, Wales, other countries around the world – they have the interpreter in the room with them, which means the information can be accessed anytime, anywhere! Why can’t we have the same here in England?”
Visit the campaign’s Facebook page for more information: www.facebook.com/WhereIsTheInterpreter/
Pictured : Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives his address to the nation last week without a BSL interpreter, whilst First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, gives her update with a BSL interpreter by her side.