Improving British Sign Language in Inverclyde

Local people are being invited to share their views on Inverclyde Council’s plans to encourage and promote British Sign Language (BSL).

The local authority is developing a new BSL Plan to cover 2024 through until 2030 and is seeking the views of members of the public to help shape the policy.

The BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 promotes the use of BSL in Scotland and requires the council to develop a plan.

People can share their feedback directly with the council via email, letter or BSL video and an in-person event is also taking place on Monday 29 January 2024 in the Beacon Arts Centre from 6-8pm where there will be BSL interpreters and refreshments.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council and convener of policy and resources, said: “Our Plan 2024/30 will outline how we will promote and raise awareness of BSL in Inverclyde

“The opinions of local people will play an important part in shaping the council’s new BSL Plan.

“The more people who provide feedback, the better the plan will be and we can ensure that we take the views of all interested residents into account.”

The policy will set out improvement actions for the council to implement during the next six years and will be broadly framed around the same priority areas as the BSL National Plan 2023/29.

Councillor McCabe said: “The document will be devised by members of staff from a number of Services across the council and the Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

“The improvement actions will be grouped around a variety of themes, including access to employment, health and wellbeing, and children, young people and their families.

“We are keen for local people to tell us if the plan meets their needs.

“We had very good engagement with local stakeholders during the development of our first BSL Plan 2018/24.

Councillor McCabe said: “I would encourage local BSL users to get involved again - together with other people who have an interest in BSL - by attending the consultation event.

“Development of the new Plan 2024/30 is at an early stage. The council is therefore keen to make sure that BSL users are at the centre of the process and make their views known about what should be included during the development of the council’s new BSL Plan 2024/30.”

The consultation event on the Draft BSL Plan 2024/30 on Monday 29 January 2024 will be held in the Lindsay Wood Room at the Beacon.

People can also provide comments about the Plan 2024/30 by:

  • sending an email to corporatepolicy@inverclyde.gov.uk
  • sending a BSL video to corporatepolicy@inverclyde.gov.uk
  • writing to The Corporate Policy Team, Organisational Development, Policy and Communications Service, Inverclyde Council, Municipal Buildings, Greenock, PA15 1LY.

The Council’s current BSL Plan which covers the period 2018/24 is available from the Documents section of this page and there is also a link to a signed version of the current plan on the Inverclyde Council YouTube channel in the Other Websites section of this page.