North Ayrshire Council

07/16/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/16/2024 06:23

Cabinet approves Ayrshire Shared British Sign Language (BSL) Local Plan

Posted on 16 Jul 2024

North Ayrshire Council's Cabinet has approved a plan that will continue to put British Sign Language (BSL) users at the heart of daily life.

The British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 places a duty on public sector bodies - including local authorities - to promote and facilitate the promotion of

British Sign Language (BSL).

This includes the development of six-yearly plans that consider the national BSL plan and local needs.

The Ayrshire Shared British Sign Language (BSL) Local Plan for 2024 to 2030 was approved at Cabinet to help ensure BSL users can happily live, learn and work in - and also visit - the region.

The Plan was developed through the Ayrshire Equality Partnership, which North Ayrshire Council is member of, and applies across Ayrshire.

The new Plan replaces the previous one, which was effective from 2018-24, and has been a collaboration of public sector partners, including South, East and North Ayrshire councils and Health and Social Care Partnerships, NHS Ayrshire and Arran and Ayrshire College.

It is a high-level partnership plan and will be augmented through the development of an operational BSL plan, with further detailed actions that BSL users will be involved in developing.

Following approval of the 2024 to 2030 Plan, a BSL video highlighting the key aspects of the plan has been produced and shared on partner agencies' websites. And an implementation group - including representatives from the BSL community - will be formed to help deliver the Plan.

Consultation with BSL users from across Ayrshire has been key to the development of the Plan, and engagement has included: Ayrshire Society for the Deaf; BSL students from Ayrshire College; the Ayrshire Deaf Education Service and representatives from Elderbank Primary School in Irvine, Grange Academy in Kilmarnock and Greenwood Academy in Dreghorn.

Key themes were identified during this engagement, and these have been reflected in the Plan's aims.

Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities and Islands, said: "It was vital in the development of the Plan to ensure the BSL community was represented and had an opportunity to contribute and advise.

"Going forward, we will continue to engage with BSL users - as we develop various actions - to get their feedback, which has been integral to the progress of the Plan."

The Plan aligns with the Council's priorities of 'Wellbeing', 'Communities and Local Democracy' and being 'A Sustainable Council'.

A local Ayrshire implementation group is being convened, involving BSL users, to look at more detailed actions over the next six-month period.

You can find a BSL video explaining the Local Plan for 2024 to 2030 here: British Sign Language (BSL) plan (north-ayrshire.gov.uk)

This page also has links to BSL videos on key Council services, including bin collection days and school term dates, and other sources of support.