COVID-19 Funding for the Sign Language Sector in Northern Ireland

A new £430,000 Fund has opened for applications from organisations and self-employed individuals working in the sign language sector in Northern Ireland.

The Sign Language COVID-19 Support Fund aims to help the sign language sector during the COVID-19 crisis and will support the following:

Mitigating loss of income and contributing to core running costs for organisations and self-employed interpreters, translators, tutors and session workers, which may include funding for professional body fees and small equipment purchases to enable transition to online working eg headsets, blue screens etc.

Increasing the sector’s capacity to deliver support through BSL/ISL.

Supporting Online Family Sign Language Courses and accredited BSL/ISL courses which provide for continued and enhanced employment opportunities for Deaf tutors, session workers.

Developing the sector’s capacity for sustainability and renewal during and post-COVID019 restrictions.

Facilitating the digitisation of BSL/ISL cultural and linguistic material for open online release.

Assisting the development of social media/online interpretation/translation of COVID-19 information through BSL/ISL.

Applicants will need to demonstrate that a significant part of their income is from sign language practice and that they are currently experiencing difficulties due to work restrictions imposed by COVID-19 protocols.

The grant size is at the discretion of the funder and successful applicants can use the grants to cover costs such as:

Capacity building – including leadership development, marketing and business sustainability.

Digital enhancement for on-line learning and promotion and modifications to events, plans and equipment to ensure COVID-19 public health compliance.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 1 December 2020.

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.