British Sign Language (BSL)

The BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 requires public bodies in Scotland to publish a local BSL plan every six years.  Local plans set out how they will facilitate and promote the use and understanding of BSL in their local area, taking account of local circumstances while considering how best to respond to BSL users’ needs within local communities, organisations or services.

The term 'BSL users' covers those whose first or preferred language is BSL.  This includes those who are D/deaf or D/deaf blind.  

National BSL Plan

The Scottish Government’s BSL National Plan 2023-2029 commits to making Scotland the best place in the world for BSL users to live, work, visit and learn, with ten long-term goals which were co-produced with BSL users across Scotland.

Our BSL Plan 2024 - 2030

The Moray BSL Plan 2024 - 2030 is Moray's second BSL plan.  It focuses on improving engagement between the D/deaf community, Moray Council and our wider communities.
Through the plan we aim to improve every day experiences for D/deaf people, making sure we support BSL users across Moray so they have equal access to our services.  We will continue to support a dialogue with the D/deaf community through the lifetime of the plan.    

Following consultation with Moray BSL users, the plan covers 6 key areas for improvement and accessible services:

1. BSL Accessibility
2. Children and families 
3. Access to Employment
4. Access to Services
5. Celebrating BSL culture
6. Transport

BSL users can watch our BSL video for the Moray Local Plan 2024 - 2030.  Please note the consultation is now closed and an updated version of the video will be uploaded shortly. 

Contact Scotland - Free BSL video relay service 

British Sign Langauage (BSL) interpreters in Scotland are very limited. Contact Scotland offer BSL users a free video relay service to contact anyone in Scotland. You can register with Contact Scotland and receive a call back from an interpreter as soon as one is available.
• Further information can be found at contactscotland-bsl.org
• D/deaf people can find more information at contactscotland-bsl.org/deafcallers/
• Information about how you can contact a D/deaf person using this service can be found at contactscotland-bsl.org/hearingcallers/