Transparency data

BSL Advisory Board meeting summary: 14 May 2025 (including BSL version)

Updated 6 August 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

© Crown copyright 2025

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open 바카라 사이트 Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at /government/publications/british-sign-language-bsl-advisory-board-meeting-summaries/bsl-advisory-board-meeting-summary-14-may-2025-including-bsl-version

British Sign Language (BSL) version

Attendees

  • Minister for Social Security and Disability, Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP

BSL Advisory Board

  • Craig Crowley MBE FRSA, Co-chair of BSL Advisory Board
  • Alex Gowlland, Deputy Director of Disability Unit (DU), Cabinet Office, Co-chair
  • Jo Atkinson
  • Teri Devine
  • Asif Iqbal MBE
  • Richard Macqueen
  • Ahmed Mudawi
  • Sylvia Simmonds
  • Sam Stocken
  • Martin Thacker 
  • Mangai Sutharsan
  • Kate Reed 
  • Vicki Ashmore
  • Zoe Fudge-Ajadi

Other attendees

  • Sally Chalk and Richard Bowden, Signapse
  • Lauren Ward, RNID
  • Matt Kirby and Michael Davey, Signly
  • Eight civil servants representing the Disability Unit, Home Office and the NHS were in attendance

Apologies

  • Gaye Hampton
  • Richard Platt
  • Erin McCluskey

Summary of discussion

Chair headlines

The meeting started with introductions of new members Catherine Drew and Abigail Gorman, who were warmly welcomed. Craig commended the board바카라 사이트™s 2 years of dedicated effort and acknowledged the significant progress made by the subgroups and working groups since the previous meeting.

Minister for Social Security and Disability meeting with the Board 

Minister Timms thanked the BSL Advisory Board and its chair, Craig, for their significant achievements. He noted the positive progress on the BSL GCSE following the consultation바카라 사이트™s release and acknowledged the Empowering Deaf Society parliamentary event on 7 March.

Subgroup updates

Health and social care subgroup

The subgroup chair provided an update on their research into the issues experienced by Deaf people in the health and social care systems, and the report that the sub group is producing. 

Education subgroup

Since the last meeting, the education subgroup has drafted a response to the Ofsted consultation which has now been submitted. The subgroup has also written to the Minister for Social Security and Disability and the Minister for Early Education (Department for Education) to set out their key recommendations to the government to improve education for Deaf children.

The subgroup will next meet to discuss issues relating to the teachers of the Deaf qualifications.

Deafblind working group

The deafblind working group has brought together and to discuss priority issues affecting deafblind people. As a result, Signature and NRCPD are now working together specifically on the issue of increasing the number of registered interpreters, and progress is now being made.

Work is also underway to resolve issues on regulating communicator guides and professionalising their training, following a meeting in April with leading deafblind organisations.

Technology working group

The working group convened its first meeting on 18 March 2025, at Tata Consulting. Attendees included the Minister for Social Security and Disability, and leaders in BSL technology. This meeting included a productive dialogue, leading to the decision to establish a quarterly tech forum.

Signapse demonstration

The board received a presentation from Signapse, a company developing AI for BSL translation. Signapse addressed topics including the cultural, linguistic, and ethical dimensions of their technology development. Board members asked questions about Signapse바카라 사이트™s complaints procedure, AI framework principles, domain appropriateness, and potential collaboration with human interpreters.

RNID presentation on AI

The board received an introductory session on AI led by a representative from RNID, with a focus on BSL translation using AI. This session aimed to cover AI fundamentals in preparation for the board바카라 사이트™s upcoming technology forum meeting.

Home Office discussion

Home Office attended the board to discuss their dedication to enhancing accessibility within frontline services. Board members expressed significant approval for the Home Office바카라 사이트™s understanding of Deaf culture, their accomplishments to date, and plans for future initiatives. The board offered their support to the Home Office as it continues to improve BSL accessibility.

NHS: National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme

The National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme바카라 사이트™s achievements were presented to the board by a programme representative. Board members asked about data collection in relation to Deaf patients and the Accessible Information Standard (AIS).

NHS: Equalities and Involvement discussion

The board met with a representative from the NHS Equalities and Involvement team to discuss the importance of enforcing and implementing the Accessible Information Standard (AIS). The conversation focused on identifying opportunities to reduce barriers for Deaf people accessing health and social care.

Signly demonstration

Signly representatives addressed the BSL Advisory Board regarding their technology for improving communication access for Deaf people, emphasising the ethical considerations and domain appropriateness of using AI for BSL translation.

Health and social care report update

The board received an update on the progress of the Health and Social Care report and discussed the recommendations in the report.

Any other business

The board discussed the next meeting date. The co-chairs thanked the board members for their contributions and the meeting concluded.

Back to top