Having to read, write or lipread a second spoken language, such as Welsh or English, in which they may have limited literacy, often leaves sign language users with poor access to information.

Making the announcement at Legal and General, Cardiff, who employ BSL users, Jane Hutt said: "Today’s announcement is a major step forward in promoting social inclusion.

The problems people can face if there aren’t interpreters available cannot be underestimated. There are recorded cases where sign language users have faced severe difficulties in reporting crimes; and have had to communicate with health staff in inappropriate and undignified situations.

"Often a sign language user has to wait up to eight weeks to secure an interpreter to see their GP, or discuss their child’s education with a teacher or question a neighbour’s planning application. This cannot be right.

"That’s why we want to invest to increase the number of interpreters and are funding the scheme, BSL Futures.

The funding will provide 36 posts for Apprentice Interpreters to train and get their qualifications. It will support a further nine trainee interpreters with grants to access courses. This is the first scheme of its size in the UK.

"Social inclusion and accessible services for sign language users are enormously important equality issues. This initiative will make a real difference.

It’s an example of just one of the innovative ways in which the Assembly Government is tackling social inequality in Wales."

BSL Futures

is funded by £1.6m from the European Union’s Objective One programme and £1.1m match funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The partnership led by RNID Cymru, Deaf Association Wales and the Association of Sign Language Interpreters is already in the process of recruiting its first 10 apprentice interpreters.

The scheme will provide each apprentice interpreter with a bursary and an individually tailored, fully-supported training programme that will result in their registration as a freelance professional interpreter. It will also:

Train more BSL tutors to teach the language at the highest levels;

Support colleges across Wales to develop their BSL course provision;

Develop a postgraduate course in BSL/Spoken Language interpreting;

Support public service providers in Wales to develop the capacity to deliver services in BSL.
Catrin Fletcher, Director of RNID Cymru, which represents deaf and hard of hearing people in Wales, says: "This announcement is wonderful news for sign language users in Wales.

The scheme will make social inclusion a reality for sign language users by dramatically increasing the number of BSL interpreters.

"This is a really good illustration of the difference that can be made by government and the voluntary sector working together.

RNID Cymru welcomes the Minister's announcement of Welsh Assembly Government support for BSL Futures. We wholeheartedly support the scheme."

Julie Watkins chair of the South Wales Region of the Association of Sign Language interpreters said: "We see first hand the detrimental effect that the lack of interpreters has on the sign language community.

This scheme will make accessible information and participation a reality.

"It's also a wonderful opportunity to develop the profession to ensure that sign language users have full access to services and can play a full role as equal citizens of Wales.

We applaud the Assembly Government for backing recognition of BSL with funding for this innovative scheme."

Adrian Clark, Location Director, Legal and General, Cardiff said: "We currently employ six full-time profoundly deaf staff across our business here in Cardiff.

We are extremely pleased with their work and their commitment, they are a delight to have in the company.

However, the distinct needs of our deaf staff mean communication is critical and we are continually frustrated by the inability to find qualified interpreters, especially at short notice, to allow them to function normally within the workplace. reports www.a2mediagroup.com

This announcement by the Welsh Assembly Government is very good news and cannot come soon enough."