Terms of reference

The BSL stakeholder group will be a ‘task and finish’ group to develop a set of recommendations to inform the Welsh Government’s production of a BSL policy ‘route map’, which will set out the priority actions Welsh Government are taking to promote and facilitate BSL and improve outcomes for the Deaf BSL signing community of Wales.

The group will work with Welsh Government officials to advise on clear BSL priorities, considering outcomes and cross-government actions required to create direct, effective change and equality for Deaf BSL signers.

The core themes underpinning this group are

• equal access and outcomes
• the recognition and promotion of BSL
• enabling Welsh Deaf leadership

The recommendations and identified actions from the group will inform the Welsh Government’s development of a BSL ‘route map’. 

The BSL ‘route map’ will contribute towards Welsh Government’s long term aim for equality and the Welsh Government’s National Equality Objectives. 

The BSL stakeholder group will provide insight into the language barriers faced by Deaf BSL signers, across all areas of Welsh life.

The group will discuss current cross-cutting Welsh Government policy initiatives and actions, considering where there are language barriers and where the promotion and facilitation of BSL needs to be strengthened. 

The group will recommend short, medium and long actions required to ensure equal access to language, information and services for Deaf BSL signers across a range of policy areas. This will include but is not limited to, health, education and public services.

The group will provide an advisory function. It will not be a decision-making body. 

The group will advise on matters devolved to Wales only. 

The group will run for approximately 6 months to produce a set of recommendations and priority actions. Further meetings may be required, this will be decided by the Group.

The first BSL stakeholder group meeting will be held in January 2025.

The BSL stakeholder group will meet once every month.

Membership is via invitation only from Welsh Government BSL Policy Officials.

The majority language of the BSL stakeholder group will be BSL, with a minimum of 51% BSL signers making up the overall membership. 

The group is composed of representative organisations/charities, including Deaf BSL signers and BSL allies.

If gaps in the expertise of the group are identified within the duration of the group’s existence, additional members may be invited by the Welsh Government. 

The group will represent the views of their organisations, and/or Deaf BSL signers to shape future Welsh Government policies and strategies. Where possible, membership will encompass regional variation.

Members are asked to maintain a regular involvement with the meetings; however, a deputy can be nominated to attend on behalf of a member when required.

Members are responsible for sharing the views held by members of their communities, as well as pertinent research/resources/information that will support the Group to achieve its outcomes. 

It is expected that members that represent an organisation, consult with their organisations between meetings and feedback views to the BSL stakeholder group. 

Additional Welsh Government policy officials and/or guest speakers will be invited to meetings relevant to their policy area where required.

The BSL stakeholder group will be co- chaired, by a Welsh Government official and a BSL representative from the British Deaf Association, as the leading Deaf-led organisation working with Deaf BSL signers.

Secretariat support will be provided by the Equality and Human Rights Division of the Welsh Government.

The group may involve setting up sub-working groups. This will be discussed and agreed with the group during meetings.

The role of the co-chairs is to facilitate and encourage discussion around innovative solutions and best practice. 

The co-chairs will ensure the group maintains transparency and communicates in a way that builds trust and ensures everyone has an opportunity to contribute and be informed.

The co-chairs will agree the group agendas in advance of each meeting. 

Welsh Government’s role in the group as co-chair is to:

• facilitate discussion and provide secretariat support
• work in partnership with stakeholders to support navigation of cross Government policy teams, ensuring the right policy officials are invited to the group when needed
• identify existing work within Welsh Government that links with the work and direction of the stakeholder group
• support understanding of cross-Government policy levers and the role of policy officials

work in partnership with stakeholders, providing civil service expertise to ensure the recommendations produced by the group are deliverable to achieve positive and meaningful impact to Deaf BSL signers.

All members are expected to engage with respect and inclusivity for each other, for Welsh Government Officials and for any others providing input or evidence. This includes ensuring Deaf BSL signers and BSL allies are equally respected and included by all members.

Members are expected to engage constructively and collaboratively to support the development of actions, ensuring their contributions do not negatively impact the participation of other members.

Disruptive behaviour, including intimidation, interruption, personalising comments or any actions that hinder the productive participation of others, will not be tolerated. Any complaint about a member not meeting the standards of behaviour expected from all members should be addressed (this can be done anonymously) to either of the co-chairs or Welsh Government BSL policy officials, who will discuss the matter initially with the co-chairs. If the behaviour requirements are not met, the member may be asked to leave the group.

Creating 'safe spaces' is crucial for fostering open, honest, and productive dialogue. Stakeholders will be offered opportunities away from main meetings to meet in a ‘safe space’ to discuss any concerns they may have. These sessions will be hosted and led by British Deaf Association (BDA).

BSL stakeholder group meetings will be hosted online via Zoom to ensure maximum accessibility to members. Any in-person meetings will include an option to join online through zoom. 

For all meetings, the secretariat will ensure BSL/English interpreters are present. 

The secretariat will ensure access requirements are fully met. This may include palantypists, materials in an alternate format or any other requested access provision. However, please note some access services need as much advance notice as possible, so could requests please be made in a timely manner to help ensure all needs are met. 

The secretariat will provide members with meeting agendas, at least four working days in advance of meetings. 

The secretariat will take a formal meeting note to capture the main points and actions only.    

Meetings hosted on Zoom will be recorded for the purpose of retaining a written transcription of the closed captions and meeting chat only. These will be used by the Secretariat to create a formal minute from the meeting. 

All documents presented to the working group will be marked as “official” or with an appropriate security marking.

Members may share material supplied in confidence to their organisation for discussion; however, this is not to be shared outside of the organisation without the express permission of the Welsh Government.

The Welsh Government may also share information in confidence within the Welsh Government.

Breach of confidentiality rules as set out above may result in removal from the group.