Form

Apply to be a BSL Advisory Board member or co-chair

Apply now to join the BSL Advisory Board as board member. Applications close on 22 August 2025. Applications for the co-chair role closed on 8 August.

• From: Disability Unit, Office for Equality and Opportunity and The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP
• Published: 10 July 2025
• Last updated: 18 August 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Information pack (BSL and English)

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How to apply (BSL and English)

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Co-chair role description and person specification (BSL and English)

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Board member role description and person specification (BSL and English)

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BSL Advisory Board terms of reference (BSL and English)

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Application form: co-chair role

MS Word Document, 43.3 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Application form: board member role

MS Word Document, 42.6 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Co-chair applications closed

The deadline has passed for applications to the co-chair role.

You can apply to join the BSL Advisory Board as a member until 22 August 2025.

The British Sign Language (BSL) Act 2022 (“The BSL Act”) was enacted in April 2022.  The BSL Act legally recognises BSL as a language of England, Scotland and Wales (but not Northern Ireland, where equality law is devolved).

A non-statutory board of mainly BSL users was established in March 2023. Its role is to advise the government on matters of importance to Deaf people and on implementing the BSL Act. 

The BSL Advisory Board aims to make sure the views and voices of Deaf people across the UK are at the heart of the work of the UK government.  The tenure of the current Board finishes in December 2025 and we are now recruiting for board members and an independent co-chair.

Members will use their expertise and experience to help ensure the voices of Deaf people can help to shape policy and strategy across government.

The term of the board will be from December 2025 to December 2028.

How to apply

1. Read the information pack and how to apply.

2. Read the full person specification for the board member and co-chair roles.

3. Apply in writing or via BSL video. You can either complete an application form or send us a document or email containing the same information.

4. Return your application to us by the application deadline.

Deadlines

• co-chair: 8 August 2025
• board member: 22 August 2025

Published 10 July 2025

Last updated 18 August 2025 + show all updates

1. 18 August 2025

   Updated content to say that applications for the co-chair role have closed.

2. 10 July 2025

   First published.