Alison Jones: Being CEO of Communication Unlimited, award-winning British Sign Language interpreting agency (BSL)

Hi everyone, I am Alison Jones, a Deaf BSL user and I am the CEO of Communication Unlimited, otherwise known as CU. CU is primarily a Sign Language interpreting agency covering Derby and Derbyshire area.  

We also get involved in different projects including being a co-partner with University Hospitals of Derby and Burton and also with the Royal School for the Deaf. We pride ourselves on being able to react swiftly to emergencies and going above and beyond our duties by going the extra mile. 

I started in my current role as CEO in January 2014 so I am now in my eleventh year! I had a variety of jobs before coming to CU including supporting unemployed deaf people to find work, working with computers at JCB and also teaching BSL. 

Not one day is the same here at CU so it’s impossible to describe a typical day. My work includes working with BSL interpreters and their diaries, communicating with deaf people with their requests and issues they may be having and also liaising with our contract suppliers which includes monitoring information.

I also attend different network meetings representing Communication Unlimited and the wider deaf community. Another part of my job is finding and writing funding applications and to come up with new project ideas as well as providing reports. I also deliver Deaf Awareness sessions

One of the biggest challenges Communication Unlimited are facing (which is the same for others all over the UK) is the interpreter shortage. We need to increase the interpreting pool and work smarter.

Emotional challenges can also be difficult at times when we are supporting deaf people who may be receiving bad news or dealing with a serious illness which can end in death. This also occurs along with the happy times when newborn babies are being born or when we are part of a celebration, for example a wedding! 

It is extremely hard not to being able to provide interpreters every time for everyone who needs one. 

To date, we have received two awards for our work.  The first is the “Derbyshire Beacon of Hope”  for our work during the COVID pandemic where we supported the deaf community through the difficult times in many ways.

The time during COVID was difficult for everyone but within CU we rose to the challenge to continue interpreting in different ways including remote interpreting through mobile phones, supported SignVideo and going out to medical appointments wearing protective gear.

I recall going out to a house to explain through their lounge window how to install whatsapp on their mobile phone and teaching an elderly couple how to make video calls so they could communicate with their GP urgently.

We were also awarded the “FSB Small Business Awards – East Midlands Winner  Diversity and Inclusion Award” in 2023. This award was to recognise the work we did during COVID and after.  It was an honour to be recognised by the Federation of small businesses and to attend an award ceremony in Birmingham representing the East Midlands.

We have also had our fair share of interesting and unusual situations like for example when one of our interpreters, Jacinta,  was involved in a fire engine demonstration and went up onto the fire engine platform.

Another interpreter, Fraser,  interpreted for the Minister of Disabled people when he visited Derby and we have also interpreted for Royalty including the Queen Elizabeth, Duchess of Kent and Sarah Ferguson when they visited Derby.

There are times when I wish people remember that interpreters are human and not an expert at mind reading nor do they have ‘google-like’  knowledge. Providing preparation before a job is so helpful and helps the interpreters to understand the topic and deliver a good interpretation.

Interpreters are not only for the deaf person but for everyone who is unable to use BSL.  For example, a doctor would not have been able to do his job without the information received from the deaf patient via the BSL interpreter.

I am so proud of the CU interpreters and the freelance interpreters who work to support us at peak times. Communication Unlimited would not exist without their dedication to the organisation and the Deaf community.

I like being able to enable effective communication for people and break down barriers between the deaf community and the hearing people. The deaf community trust and respect Communication Unlimited, they know we have their back and will support them when we can.

This year it is actually our 35^th Anniversary as the organisation started in December 1989 and so we are celebrating this during 2025.

We were one of the first BSL interpreting agencies back in 1989 and still one of the few deaf led BSL interpreting agencies. We are a charity and work to enable communication between the deaf and hearing communities.

The trustees and I want to celebrate the excellent work delivered over the 35 years and provide an opportunity for everyone to get together.

We are hosting a black tie event at Derbyshire Cricket Ground in a marquee overlooking the cricket ground. There will be blue carpet entry (not red as the colours of the CU logo are blue and white!) and there will be a free drink on entry.

There will be a three course meal which is chosen by the guest before the day, a surprise guest speaker or two, a raffle, silent auction along with photos being taken.

There will be a bar open until midnight along with a disco after the meal. There is a hotel right next to the venue for those who want to stay over. It will be a great opportunity to come to spend a weekend in Derby.

Looking ahead to the future I would like to see Communication Unlimited continue their good work and reach their 50^th anniversary!

On a personal note, I would like to travel more.  I still have one wish left from my list of places to visit from my childhood dreams! I had a list of four: Florida, Monte Carlo, Australia and Hawaii. Surfing in Hawaii remains a dream!

You can find out more about CU here: https://cu-bsl.co.uk

To attend CU’s 35 year anniversary celebratory event you can book a ticket by emailing events@cu-bsl.co.uk or text/send a BSL video to: 07812300280