North Ayrshire Council’s cabinet has approved a plan that the authority says will continue to put British Sign Language (BSL) users at the heart of daily life.

The Ayrshire Shared British Sign Language (BSL) Local Plan for 2024 to 2030 was approved at North Ayrshire's cabinet to help ensure BSL users can happily live, learn and work in – and also visit - the region.

The authority spoke to members of the Ayrshire Society for the Deaf, BSL students from Ayrshire College, the Ayrshire Deaf Education Service and representatives from Elderbank Primary School in Irvine, Grange Academy in Kilmarnock and Greenwood Academy in Dreghorn to help create the plan.

(Image: NAC)

Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for communities and islands, said: “It was vital to ensure the BSL community was represented and had an opportunity to contribute and advise.

“We will continue to engage with BSL users - as we develop various actions - to get their feedback, which has been integral to the progress of the plan.”

A local Ayrshire implementation group is being convened, involving BSL users, to look at more detailed actions over the next six months.

Find out more at tinyurl.com/northayrshirebslplan, where you'll also find  links to BSL videos on key council services, including bin collection days and school term dates, and other sources of support.