Lesley Walmsley tells us about her experience volunteering as a BSL interpreter and winning a prestigious award (BSL)

Lesley Walmsley, a British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter Volunteer with Home-Start Greenwich, has been recognised as Home-Start UK’s Digital Volunteer of the Year for her life-changing support of a Deaf mother and her hearing child. 

In this blog, Lesley tells us in her own words how she came to volunteer and the experience of receiving the award – presented to her by celebrity host Kirstie Allsopp. 

Hi everyone, I am a freelance interpreter based in Bexley, Outer London/Kent.  My partner Andrea Simpson and myself had a business – Andrea’s School of BSL – for nearly 20 years but age inevitably caught up with us and we closed it soon after lockdown.

I am now of an age where I am putting less pressure on myself and focusing on local work, community, social services and health and mental health domains. Up to a couple of years ago I worked in the legal domain, family court and with solicitors. I have worked a lot in mental health and have a particular preference to work in family and community domains.

I have been with my Deaf partner for 30 years and have lots of experience over the years of being involved in Deaf activism and campaigns.  My partner was Chair of the BDAs London Area Council some years ago and I was a co-opted member of the group.  

Prior to that involvement I have always been an advocate for families and to break down the affects of isolation, particularly with parents and families through my own personal experiences.

I even set up a Gingerbread group in 1980’s to alleviate isolation and to support single parents and children.

I initially applied to volunteer for Home-Start about three years ago but with the pressure of work and health issues I was unable to complete the training until about a year ago.  I have supported hearing families and was approached by Paula Ribero from Home-Start when visiting a client called Mari to interpret for the health professional visiting her.

I had already interpreted with Mari’s family a few times and so when I was asked if I could offer voluntary interpreting for some sessions that Paula wanted to set up for her I was very happy to do it. It was very positive on the whole and enabled access to support for Mari.

I would say one of the main challenges around volunteering include navigating a shortage of time – I am still working as a BSL Interpreter but in a more local area and with shorter working times too. I also have home responsibilities so I juggle a lot of demands professionally as well as personally.

The benefits to interpreting with Home-Start for me are several. They include being able to support others to overcome isolation and barriers and seeing a positive impact on the people I work with. I became an interpreter to communicate with Deaf partner and friends and I worked in education for many years before qualifying as an interpreter.

When I heard I was nominated for an award I was very surprised. I would rather not get attention on myself as I just aim to overcome obstacles to accessing support. I have received support over the years from organisations myself and want to reduce the barriers to support in whatever way is required.

The awards ceremony itself was held at the RAC building in Pall Mall in March. It was a beautiful venue and I was amongst other very worthy volunteers. I was shocked to win the award especially after hearing all of the inspiring stories! My family and friends were very happy for me. 

I tend to feel that I represent other interpreters who give a lot of their time to trying to reduce the barriers and isolation of families due to lack of awareness.

I continue to volunteer with Home-Start and myself, Paula and Mari are hoping to raise awareness within Home-Start of the barriers to access to support for Deaf families.  The services available should be accessible to all families.   

I have enquired with SignHealth if there is research on the isolation and the effects of that on Deaf parents and families. It would seem that currently there is no research specifically on this. I am hoping I can instigate this to raise awareness of the need to make support fully accessible and hopefully raise funds as well to support this.

I know many interpreters give time to raise awareness and give their own time in offering services.  My hope is to continue to open access, hopefully alongside Mari to make Home-Start support fully accessible to Deaf families.

For me personally my next ambitions are to continue opening access, raising awareness and instigating research into isolation experiences of Deaf families to mainstream services and support.

You can watch a video about Lesley’s achievement here: https://youtu.be/6tYCOJAdn8M?si=gMhhRgxGJIrl5spw

Home-Start has supported over 1.5 million children with almost 180 local Home-Starts supporting 79,000 children in 44,000 families in communities across the UK last year.

www.homestartgreenwich.org.uk