Service for Deaf
& Hard of Hearing People 
 

Contact

Year of St. Paul

Parishes

Mass

Wimbledon

Rotherhithe

Aylesford Priory

Cathedral

Prayers

BSL

Media

Films

We are looking for signers have completed all three levels in British Sign Language (BSL) with receptive, productive skills with knowledge, experience and background for communicating and translating at various meetings and events for deaf people especially for the sacraments of the Church. Signers at each levels are welcome to contact us and find out what they can offer to improve the service.

Levels in BSL:

• Level 1 - Beginners need to understand that when they've passed level one, they are NOT using fluent BSL.

• Level 2 - Intermediate signers uses Sign Support English.

• Level 3 - Advanced signers/communicators becomes competent to communicate in BSL for deaf people.

• Level 4 - Interpreters.

Some hospitals policies emphasise that patients must have signers with level three for consultation with doctors.

By law, only signers at level three can be used for marriages.

To make progress, signers at level one need to pass their exam for level two so that they can use Liturgical Sign Language in their parishes using Sign Support English (SSE), but they cannot sign for marriages and at some hospitals.

Hospitals can pay for a communicator at level three with Liturgical Sign Language for priests or chaplains.

Makaton signers can be taught to use Liturgical Sign Language. Although generally, it is used for hearing people with learning difficulties, deaf participants can understand most of the basic signs. The award-winning BBC TV series Something Special uses Makaton symbols and signs, as well as rhymes and songs, to help encourage communication and develop language in a fun and exciting way.

Please contact us if interested