British Sign Language 5-year plan: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – 1-year update, July 2026 (English and BSL versions)
Updated 15 July 2026
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2026
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skZvro-xiQ
This past year, we have focused on:
- ensuring significant Foreign Secretary moments and speeches are made available in British Sign Language (BSL)
- continuing to promote our consular advice in BSL on social media channels
We have used in-person BSL interpreters for Foreign Secretary speeches, as well as using BSL for resulting digital products.
Progress against our 4 pillars in our British Sign Language 5-year plan:
Building BSL capability and awareness
This has been our primary area of focus for the 2025 to 2026 reporting year.
We continue to work with staff networks to identify staff fluent in BSL to act as a challenge and support for our external BSL products.
We have built strong relationships with external providers to ensure we can have in-room and bespoke social media BSL products for key Foreign Secretary speeches.
We have plans in place for International Day of Sign Languages in 2026.
Engaging with BSL users to test approaches
We plan to run our first focus group with BSL users in the 2026 to 2027 reporting year to determine their needs in relation to the work of FCDO.
Our work with FCDO’s disability staff network is ongoing.
Meeting people where they are with BSL content
We are building relationships with social media content creators who promote and use BSL in their content to find opportunities to work together on digital content supporting key consular messages.
Ensuring smooth provision of FCDO services to BSL users
We plan to start this work in the 2026 to 2027 reporting year.
Our work as part of the 5-Year plan is on track.