North Warwickshire Citizens Advice partners with SignVideo to provide accessible support to deaf people

North Warwickshire Citizens Advice has partnered with SignVideo, in an innovative campaign to provide accessible advice for deaf people.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Association for the Deaf released figures this year to say that, 'One in six people are affected by deafness – that is currently 11 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss, and this is likely to rise to one in five in the next twenty years'.

It is clear that there was a gap in the services for deaf people claiming Universal Credit, because they could not previously access support easily.

Now, however, Citizens Advice offers a British Sign Language interpreter, working with SignVideo. Advisors are available from Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Users can access the service on the SignVideo website.

According to the Sign Video website, Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police have launched the use of their services too.

SignVideo is led by Jeff McWhinney, a well-known deaf entrepreneur who has fought for years for equality of the deaf and hearing community. SignVideo is a predominantly deaf-led organisation providing VRS solutions to the government, NHS, councils, UK banks, telecommunications providers, helplines and many other types of organisations.

According to further figures released by CWAD, 6.75 million people in the United Kingdom could benefit from hearing aids, but it takes ten years for the average person to address their deafness.

If you have hearing problems and would benefit from extra support and a BSL interpreter, there's no need to wait - visit the Citizens Advice rooms on Parish Street, Atherstone, for more details.