Support for deaf people

Citizens Advice North Somerset

We have closed our face to face service but you can still get advice from Citizens Advice North Somerset:

• Online - www.citizensadvice.org.uk
• Phone - Text relay - 18001 0800 144 8884 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) - available for people with hearing loss and/or speech impairment to access the phone system
• Email - advice@nscab.org.uk (please allow 5 working days for response)

Health access

The deaf health charity, SignHealth and online interpreting company InterpreterNow, have together launched ‘BSLHealthAccess’ which enables the provision of immediate, on demand access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for communication with Deaf people in health settings free of charge during the current Coronavirus situation.

Users can download an app onto their mobile phone or computer so that they can contact a GP, hospital or care home in BSL.

There is a video about BSL Health available here.

New Emergency SMS Service

For deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and speech impaired people.

If you come across or are involved in an emergency you can use your phone to text the emergency services for help by texting 999.

You MUST register your mobile phone number before using this service - send a text message to the number 999, with the word ‘Register’, and follow the simple instructions.

You can also visit Relay UK emergency SMS website, where you will find more information about the service, including BSL videos.

Domestic abuse - North Somerset

Next Link now provides domestic abuse support in North Somerset.

They can be contacted via:

0800 4700 280

Text Relay is also available for callers who are deaf or hearing impaired. If using a textphone, prefix the helpline number by 18001.

Domestic abuse