Policy paper

British Sign Language 5-year plan: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

This plan sets out how Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) plans to improve the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in its communications in the next 5 years.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Disability Unit and Office for Equality and Opportunity
• Published: 21 July 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

British Sign Language 5-year plan: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (English and BSL versions)

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Details

The BSL Act 2022 requires that named ministerial government departments must report on how they are promoting or facilitating the use of BSL in their communications with the public. 

Each ministerial department has been asked to produce a 5-year BSL plan, setting out how they plan to improve the use of BSL within their departments.

These are published alongside the third BSL report, which summarises work being done across the government to improve the use of BSL.  

Departments will be asked to update on progress against their 5-year plan in the fourth BSL report. This is due to be published in July 2026.

Published 21 July 2025