Sussex Interpreting Services

11/08/2026

From isolation to independence: "Words can't express how much this help means to me." 💚

Arriving in a new country while facing language barriers, isolation and uncertainty can be incredibly challenging.

Through our Bilingual Social Prescribing service, we support people in overcoming barriers, connecting with local services, and building confidence.

This feedback from one of our Service Users captures the impact that the right support can have:

💬 "This service has been incredibly helpful to me. I feel much less isolated and less alone. The many difficulties I faced when arriving in Britain have been largely resolved with the help I received. You helped me access services and discover what support was available to me.
The support has helped me open up, which is very difficult for me as a single mother living here with limited knowledge of the language and culture.
I feel less fear and more confidence. I feel much more able to work with people, develop myself, and build a life here. I am now learning English and trying to find a cleaning job so that I can be independent and further support my family.
Words can't express how much this help from SIS means to me."

👏 Every story like this is a reminder that bilingual support is about more than access to services. It's about helping people feel seen, connected and empowered to build the future they want.

SIS' Social Prescribing service is commissioned by NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB and delivered in partnership with lead partner Together Co along with Bridging Change, Friends, Families and Travellers and Brighton and Hove Speak Out

06/08/2026

🚧 How accessible is your service for people who don't speak English as their first or preferred language?

We've created a new resource with ideas how you can make your service more accessible for people with language needs. It brings together practical, low-cost and free ways organisations can reduce language barriers and improve access for the communities they serve:

✅ Bilingual appointment letters in 19 languages
✅ Translated self-referral cards in 27 languages
✅ Multilingual translated resource libraries
✅ Information about Bilingual Social Prescribing
✅ Tips on translation tools, telephone interpreting, translated SMS communications and translated service information.

This resource was developed following research we carried out into why people with language needs miss NHS appointments. One of the key recommendations was to make services easier to access by improving communication and providing information in people's preferred languages. You can read the full report on that here: 🔗 https://sussexinterpreting.org.uk/news/reducing-missed-appointments-for-people-with-language-needs/

Whether you work in healthcare, local government, housing, community services, education, or the voluntary sector, these simple steps can help make your organisation more inclusive, improve engagement, and ensure people can access the support they need.

We're keen to work with partner organisations that want to make their services more accessible for multilingual communities across Sussex. If you'd like to learn more about the resource, translation support, or how SIS can help your organisation improve inclusion and accessibility, we'd love to hear from you.

Access the resource here: 🔗 https://sussexinterpreting.org.uk/news/making-services-more-accessible-for-people-with-language-needs/

Sussex Interpreting Services (SIS) has launched a new practical resource, Making your service more accessible for people with language needs, bringing together a range of free tools and guidance to help organisations improve communication and engagement with diverse communities. The resource highlig...

04/08/2026

✅ The impact of culturally informed interpreting in therapy settings:
Comfortable, supported, understood.

"The interpreter was wonderful to work with. The client felt incredibly comfortable and supported by her. She was an integral part of the therapy process and we worked in partnership to help provide meaningful change for the client. She provided invaluable cultural contexts and was empathetic and professional throughout the sessions."
CBT Therapist - Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service

Thank you to our interpreters for helping make mental health support accessible, culturally informed, and effective.

31/07/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Happy Brighton Pride!

This weekend, Brighton comes alive in celebration of LGBTQ+ communities, equality, visibility and belonging.

Our city is home to people from many cultures and language communities, and Pride is a reminder that everyone deserves to be seen, heard and supported.

Our vision is of an inclusive and diverse society where people of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds are able to live in harmony, play a full and valued role and enjoy the same rights.

Wishing everyone a joyful and safe Pride weekend!

30/07/2026

🎉 We're delighted to launch our new Guidance Toolkit for Including People with Language Needs in Health and Social Care Research.

This toolkit has been developed to help create more inclusive, accessible, and representative research by:

✅ Supporting researchers to plan for meaningful inclusion from the outset
✅ Ensuring diverse voices and lived experiences are reflected throughout the research process
✅ Improving the quality and relevance of research
✅ Helping to reduce health inequalities
✅ Promoting equitable participation for people with language needs.

Developed through a collaborative process with researchers, VCSEs, and bilingual community researchers, the toolkit provides practical guidance, helping researchers turn good intentions into meaningful action.
It was funded by the Sussex Health and Care Research Partnership.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their expertise, insights, and experience to make this resource possible.

🔗 Access the toolkit here: https://sussexinterpreting.org.uk/news/sis-launches-new-toolkit-to-support-inclusive-health-and-social-care-research/

Together, we can help ensure health and social care research is more inclusive, representative, and impactful for all communities.

SIS is excited to launch a new Guidance Toolkit for health and care researchers to help people with language needs, who require bilingual support to understand and express themselves fully in English, to be included and participate in research studies. Inclusive research is increasingly required by....

28/07/2026

Celebrating community, achievement and opportunity 🎉

We recently joined Brighton MET College’s Community Celebration, recognising the achievements of ESOL learners and the college’s ongoing support for refugee and asylum-seeking communities. The event also celebrated the college’s recent College of Sanctuary status, recognising its commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all learners.

It was a great opportunity to share how interpreting services can help people access healthcare and other essential services, and to talk to students about our Volunteer Bilingual Social Prescriber role.

We regularly refer Service Users to the MET ESOL courses through our Social Prescribing service, so it was lovely to see the vibrant and positive atmosphere.

Thank you to the Brighton MET ESOL team for inviting us to be part of such a positive event. 👏

Read more here: https://sussexinterpreting.org.uk/news/community-celebration-at-brighton-met-college/

Photo: Chichester College Group For the second year running, SIS attended the Community Celebration event at Brighton MET College. This event marks the end of the academic year for its ESOL learners and is an opportunity for the college to mark the students’ achievements and successes. It has a ve...

22/06/2026

The plight of a frightened young woman undergoing a hysterectomy in a Brighton hospital in 1994 led to the birth

16/06/2026

Well done to Carnival Against Fascism and all those involved. We will not tolerate our wonderful city of sanctuary and diversity being intimidated by Fascists.

16/06/2026

https://sussexinterpreting.org.uk/news/climate-for-communities/

SIS is delighted to be participating in the Climate for Communities Partnership to support people with language needs to engage with and participate in climate action locally. Thanks to National Lottery players, The Trust for Developing Communities (TDC) has been awarded almost £1.3 million over th...

08/06/2026

This is a useful article that should be read, considered and shared. It includes useful tools and links.

“There is … a culture of fear of being seen as party political if we don’t work with far-right political actors in the same way we’ve worked with more ‘mainstream’ parties in the past.“

“[We need] a more sophisticated understanding of campaigning and advocacy.“

“We need … a coherent and focused strategy that enables us to campaign on issues of importance while also focusing on the existential threat.“

“There is nervousness within the organisation & our network about making clear assertions about the threat of the far right.”

“A culture that prioritizes comfort over conflict holds us back from doing better both internally and externally.”

Reform’s recent local electoral victories should be a further wake up call for the social change sector to respond to the threat of the far right. Because NGOs appear to be struggling to shif…