Darlington AssociationLanguage and Interpretation
If your first language is not spoken English, it can be very difficult to begin to gain access to opportunities and services. This section lists organisations offering advice services and support in different languages, both spoken and signed.
Contents
Local Advice Services
Language, Interpretation and Translation Services
Other Sources of Information
Contacts
Local Advice Services
Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can provide information about their services in different languages, including support on all aspects of law and assistance with welfare benefits, money matters, community care and self advocacy. The national CAB website also provides many documents translated into several languages.
Darlington and Durham Racial Equality Council can assist people in accessing information, support and legal advice.
Return to ContentsLanguage, Interpretation and Translation Services
Many local authorities, for example Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Sunderland, provide or can access independent translation and interpretation services.
A Braille translation service is available from Darlington Council for Voluntary Service and from Darlington Social Services' Physical and Sensory Impairment Team based at Vane House. There is a cost for this service.
Language Line is a telephone interpreting service, offering over 140 languages. It can be accessed locally through Darlington Borough Council reception areas, Darlington Primary Care Trust GP surgeries including Piper House, and Darlington Association on Disability. The service can also be accessed directly, but there may be a charge.
Check in Yellow Pages for private interpretation and translation services.
Multikulti is a website aiming to support citizenship through the delivery of culturally appropriate and accurately translated information in the following areas of welfare law - debt, employment, health, housing, immigration and welfare benefits. It is currently translating material in Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, French, Gujerati, Somali, Spanish and Turkish.
A BSL sign language interpreting service for social services and health related issues is available in Darlington. For further information contact Darlington Association on Disability .
RNID(Royal National Institute for Deaf People) provides information on sign language interpreting services and lip speaking services.
RNID Typetalk is the only national telephone relay service which enables deaf, deafblind, deafened, hard of hearing and people with a speech impairment to communicate with hearing people anywhere in the world. It is run by the RNID and funded by British Telecom. RNID Typetalk's relay service links a textphone user and a hearing person through a trained operator who provides a discreet and confidential service. Typetalk also enables direct access to emergency services for fire, police, ambulance and coast guard services. The Text Users Rebate Scheme provides 60% rebate on British Telecom and Typetalk bills to compensate for the fact that typed calls are generally longer.
Return to ContentsOther Sources of Information
Other sections of the Darlington Association on Disability Information Guide may contain further information relevant to language and interpretation issues.
The Equipment section includes information on where to find communication aids.
The section on Living Independently covers minicoms and other communication equipment.
The Media section provides details of broadcast and published services for people with sensory impairments.
There are a number of local and national organisations providing broad information and advice resources. Please refer to this guide's Introduction for contact details.
Contact Darlington Association on Disability's Information Service for assistance with searching for information about any subject in this guide or for support in dealing with your information requests.
Return to ContentsContacts
Darlington Association on Disability
20-22 Horsemarket
Darlington DL1 5PT
Telephone 01325 489 999
Fax : 01325 488 188
Minicom : 01325 245 061
Email : mail@darlingtondisability.org
Website : www.darlingtondisability.org
Darlington and Durham County Racial Equality Council
CVS Building
Church Row
Darlington DL1 5QD
Telephone : 01325 283900
Fax : 01325 287178
Minicom :
E-mail : ddcrec@care4free.net
Website : www.darlingtonrec.org.uk
Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Bennett House
14 Horsemarket
Darlington
DL1 5PT
Telephone : 01325 380755, Appointments 01325 256999
Fax : 01325 380324
Minicom :
E-mail :
Website : www.darlingtoncab.co.uk
National advice website : www.adviceguide.org.uk/
Darlington Council for Voluntary Service (CVS)
Church Row
Darlington DL1 5QD
Telephone : 01325 266888
Fax : 01325 266899
Minicom :
E-mail : enquiries@darlingtoncvs.org.uk
Website :
Darlington Social Services
Physical and Sensory Impairment Team
Vane House Resource Centre
Arts Centre Grounds
Vane Terrace
Darlington DL3 7AX
Telephone 01235 388131
Language Line
Swallow House
11 - 21 Northdown Street
London N1 9BN
Telephone : 0800 169 2879 or 020 7520 1430
Fax : 020 7520 1450
Minicom :
Email: enquiries@languageline.co.uk
Website : www.languageline.co.uk
Multikulti
Multikulti Project
London Advice Services Alliance
Universal House
88/94 Wentworth Street
London E1 7SA
Telephone : 020 7247 7226
Fax :
Minicom :
E-mail : contact through website
Website : www.multikulti.org.uk
RNID Typetalk
PO Box 284
Liverpool L69 3UZ
Telephone : 0151 709 9494
Voice helpline : 0800 731 1888
Fax : 0151 709 8119
Mincom : 18001 0800 500888
Email : helpline@rnid-typetalk.org.uk
Website : www.rnid-typetalk.org.uk
Stockton Borough Council
First Contact Team
Advice Centre
Bath Lane
Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2EQ
Telephone : 01642 415030
Fax :
Minicom : 01642 415017
E-mail: firstcontact@stockton.gov.uk
Website : www.stockton.gov.uk
Sunderland City Council
Language Point
Social Services
Cassaton House
43-49 Fawcett Street
Sunderland SR1 1RR
Telephone : 0191 5661750
Fax : 0191 5661751
Minicom :
E-mail : languagepoint@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk
Website : www.sunderland.gov.uk