British Sign Language 5-year plan: Home 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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Progress and impact in the last 12 months
Priority 1: Fulfil our BSL Act 2022 duty
We continue to consult with the third sector, academics and the BSL Advisory Board and its members to prioritise specific translations and provisions, like UK passport application guidance in BSL and improving accessibility of interpreters when accessing Citizen Services.
Priority 2: Promote BSL culture
From April 2025 to March 2026, the Home Office delivered 22 Deaf Awareness sessions with over 400 Home Office colleagues. These sessions support improved understanding of the practical impact of deafness and the importance of accessible communications.
Priority 3: Partnerships and engagement
The Home Office has consulted with RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf people) and the BDA (British Deaf Association) to establish how best to ensure that our BSL translations are interactive, accessible and concise.
Priority 4: Harnessing the power of data, technology, governance and assurance
We have seen an increase in the volume of referrals for BSL interpreters specifically within Passport Services. We have improved our reporting on BSL activity and are reviewing our processes to ensure we are making improvements across all our services.
Priority 5: Innovation and collaboration
The Home Office hosted a BSL Roundtable in 2025 attended by external stakeholders. We discussed the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in public services and identified risks and concerns that will inform how we develop AI solutions in future. We have committed to collaborating with deaf BSL users in the development of any BSL technology.
In 2025, The Home Office provided funding for ‘by and for’ support for deaf victims of domestic violence as part of our Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy. We awarded SignHealth £1,087,121 in the 2025 to 2026 financial year to deliver a helpline for deaf victims.
Priorities for the next 12 months
To commemorate Deaf Awareness Week in 2026, the Home Office and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs jointly hosted an in-person and virtual event for our policy and communication colleagues on 6 and 7 May 2026. The aim was to improve colleagues’ awareness of the BSL Act 2022, and our published BSL plans, with the emphasis on this year’s theme “Right to Understand, Together we can Break Barriers.”
The Home Office met with the BSL Advisory Board in May 2026 to consult on BSL improvements to citizen services and the accessibility of emergency services.
The Home Office will continue to consult with Deaf charities via our BSL roundtable, specifically consulting with members to gain further feedback on our plans and BSL communication priorities.