Christian Interpreters' Network
Signs of God hold and administer a list known as the Christian Interpreters' Network (CIN).
What is the CIN?
Signs of God is not an agency and we ourselves do not book interpreters. The Christian Interpreters' Network is a list of Interpreters, Deaf Translators and BSL Level 6 Signers who are willing to make themselves available to interpret significant events in the Christian church life, please email: interpreting@signsofgod.org.uk and we will try to find an interpreter for you.
We can also support and try to source interpreters for special events and services, Christian festivals, conferences, church meeting, etc.
Some of the interpreters have skills and experience in leading teams, and we aim to use these individuals as team leaders at large events. They offer support and feedback to the other team members and encouraging everyone's development.
Our interpreting teams work highly professionally and also are an excellent way for those starting out in the profession to improve their skills by being mentored and encouraged by more experienced interpreters throughout the events. We pride ourselves on modelling a supportive environment within Signs of God interpreting teams.
Those who are trained interpreters and registered with NRCPD (National Registers of Communication Professionals with Deaf and Deafblind People) (RSLIs), or who are regulated Trainees (TSLIs) are welcome to apply. Those who are registered or trainee interpreters with SASLI in Scotland are also welcome to apply.
We also welcome applications from those who have Level 6 BSL and are doing some interpreting in a Christian setting.
I'd like to join the CIN list - What do I do?
If you have achieved your NVQ Level 6 BSL qualification (or the old Level 4 BSL qualification), or are able to prove achievement of a recognised equivalent qualification, you are eligible to join the Christian Interpreters' list.
Just click to be taken to our registration form.
The details displayed on our website are only of those who have opted into this option, have undergone interpreter training, and who have their details already in the public domain via NRCPD.
I represent a Christian organisation and we need interpreters
Signs of God is not an agency, so we ourselves are not able to book nor guarantee to supply interpreters for any event. However, we are increasingly asked by Christian organisations to provide teams of interpreters for small or large conferences. We aim to provide a team of suitably skilled individuals, led by someone who has met the national standards in interpreting and ideally, has experience of leading a team.
There are two ways we may be able to help you:
1. The best way is to ask Signs of God to supply a team for your event. We will ask you for details of the event and your budget for interpreters. We will help you to decide how many interpreters you need for the type of event you are running.
We can help you with working out appropriate costs. Many interpreters are freelance professionals and they volunteer their time to a number of Christian events every year. Every time interpreters do this they lose income and so should not also have to pay to attend an event. Interpreters should be reimbursed appropriately for the skilled and specialist service they provide.
We can advise you every step of the way to make sure your event is fully accessible to the Deaf community.
2. Alternatively, we can send your request for interpreters to our CIN list and ask the interpreters who are available to contact you directly, which means you then book the interpreters yourselves. In this instance you may need to negotiate with the individual interpreters about the fees or gifts and expenses you will provide and what they will need. We can still provide you details of what the interpreters will need.
We only accept individuals onto our CIN list who sign to minimum standards and we encourage those working in interpreting teams at events to take out appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance. However, we do not assess the quality of any of the CIN list members and Signs of God cannot be held responsible for their conduct or the service they provide.
Our Christian Interpreters' Network includes interpreters from all over the country and it is usually possible, with enough notice, to provide a team for every event.
Contact us with your request. Please do be aware that some times of year are busier than others! Christmas, Easter and the summer periods are when our CIN list members are doing most of their volunteer work! You may need to give more notice for us to find teams at these times of year.
I'd like to join a Signs of God team at a Christian event
We regularly send out requests for interpreting team places at a wide range of Christian events. Contact us for more details on how you could be part of a team, or sign up to the CIN list today to start receiving requests to your in-box.
