Department for Communities: Sign Language COVID-19 Support Fund
Archived
Arts, culture and heritage
COVID-19/Coronavirus
Cultural heritage
Human rights and equality
People with disabilities
Antrim & Newtownabbey
Ards & North Down
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon
Belfast City
Causeway Coast and Glens
Derry City and Strabane
Fermanagh and Omagh
Lisburn and Castlereagh
Mid and East Antrim
Mid Ulster
Newry, Mourne and Down
Northern Ireland
Micro (up to £1,000)
Small (up to £10,000)
Overview
NB This information is also available in Sign Language, via the below links:
- Irish Sign Language(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- British Sign Language(external link opens in a new window / tab)
Who can apply?
Applications are invited from:
- self-employed individuals (for example, tutors, translators, interpreters, technical support staff and sign language researchers)
- and community and linguistic organisations
You will need to demonstrate that a significant part of your income is from sign language practice and that you are currently experiencing difficulties due to work restrictions imposed by COVID-19 protocols.
- Organisations who have worked to promote BSL/ISL and sign language development can apply for financial support for initiatives which meet the criteria.
Activities eligible for support include:
- 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 public health compliance.
Eligible areas for funding include:
- To deliver a COVID Relief and Recovery Fund to mitigate loss of income and contribute 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.
- To increase sector’s capacity to deliver support through BSL/ISL.
- To support Online Family Sign Language Courses and accredited BSL/ISL courses which provide for continued and enhanced employment opportunities for Deaf tutors, session workers.
- To develop the sector’s capacity for sustainability and renewal during and post-COVID restrictions.
- To facilitate digitisation of BSL/ISL cultural and linguistic material for open online release;
- To assist the development of social media/online Interpretation/Translation of Covid-19 information through BSL/ISL.