Government funding set to deliver an eightfold rise in interpreter capacity, easing long-standing shortages affecting thousands of Deafblind people
Deafblind people across London are set to gain significantly improved access to communication support following new government funding aimed at training specialist interpreters, addressing a shortage that has left the community severely underserved for years.
The Scale of the Shortage
Before this funding was introduced, just eight registered interpreters were available nationally to support an estimated 12,000 Deafblind people in the UK. This severe imbalance meant many Deafblind individuals faced long waits or no access at all to interpreters trained in the specialist tactile communication methods they rely on.
The new grant funding is expected to deliver more than an eightfold increase in interpreter capacity, expanding the total number of qualified specialists to 68 nationally. For Deafblind Londoners, this expansion means faster access to communication support and reduced waiting times for essential services including healthcare appointments, legal proceedings, and public services.
How the Funding Will Work
The grant supports bespoke competency assessment sessions for interpreters, scheduled across several weekends, including sessions taking place in London. These sessions are designed to formally assess and certify interpreters in the specialist skills needed to work with Deafblind people, who often communicate using tactile forms of British Sign Language rather than standard visual BSL.
The initiative was developed in partnership with the government’s independent BSL Advisory Board, which established a dedicated working group to address the interpreter shortage. The Board consulted directly with Signature, the UK’s leading awarding body for BSL and Deafblind qualifications, and the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind people (NRCPD), the national regulator for this profession, to design the competency sessions.
Funding will also directly support the expansion of NRCPD’s official register of interpreters for Deafblind people, ensuring the increased capacity is properly regulated and maintained over time.
Why Specialist Interpreters Matter
Deafblind people communicate through methods that differ significantly from those used by Deaf or blind individuals separately. Tactile British Sign Language, hand-on-hand signing, and other specialist communication techniques require interpreters with specific training beyond standard BSL qualifications.
Without sufficient interpreter access, Deafblind people can face exclusion from healthcare consultations, legal processes, employment opportunities, and everyday civic participation — barriers that compound existing isolation many already experience due to combined sensory loss.
What Officials Are Saying
Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, said the government recognises that too many Deafblind people have faced barriers because specialist support was not available where it was needed most, and that this funding begins to address that gap. He added that effective communication should not be a privilege and that increasing interpreter numbers represents real change for the Deafblind community.
Dr Joanna Atkinson, Co-Chair of the BSL Advisory Board, said expanding the number of interpreters with specific Deafblind expertise represents a major step forward, enabling Deafblind people to access information, participate, and get on with their lives. She also acknowledged the partnership with Signature and NRCPD in delivering the investment.
Why This Matters for London
London is home to one of the UK’s largest and most diverse Deafblind populations, with significant demand for interpreter services across healthcare, legal aid, education, and employment support sectors concentrated in the capital. The shortage of specialist interpreters has historically placed considerable strain on Deafblind Londoners attempting to access NHS services, council support, and public institutions.
With London hosting major hospitals, courts, and government services, the increased interpreter capacity is expected to have a particularly significant impact for Deafblind residents navigating the capital’s public service system, where appointment volume and demand for specialist support are highest nationally.
This investment forms part of a broader government commitment to reducing barriers to opportunity for disabled people and ensuring their voices inform policy decisions that affect their daily lives.
For more on how London’s public health and support services are evolving to meet rising demand, see more than half of London cancer patients struggle to access everyday support, Macmillan finds.
