BSL Interpreting at the Convention

Keswick Ministries is committed to ensuring that the Keswick Convention is accessible to all. As part of this commitment we have a team of qualified and regulated BSL Interpreters at each Morning Bible Reading, Evening Celebration, Lecture and Seminar held in the Main Tent. 

In order for the BSL team to prepare a faithful translation to each of the talks, we ask Convention speakers, who will be speaking in the Main Tent, to provide a script/copy of the content for their sessions.

BSL Interpreting – Information for Speakers

The following should provide you with some useful information to help you understand what the BSL Interpreters need from you. There is also a helpful video from one of our Interpreters.

  • The Interpreters need to dedicate time to translation, in order to render it as faithfully as possible.
  • The Interpreters need to understand the content and direction a talk is taking to interpret the correct meaning. Did you say ‘morning’ or ‘mourning’? Your talk could take a whole new direction if the wrong word is used!
  • The gold standard would be to have a full script for each session.
  • It is better for them to receive an early first draft and then subsequent revisions rather than wait for the polished final version.
  • Revisions are easily mapped onto the groundwork they can do with a draft.
  • Any notes, mind maps or photos on scrappy bits of paper if that’s how you prefer to work would be helpful.
  • Something is better than nothing.
  • All sessions held in the Main Tent are live streamed with BSL interpreting and open to anyone to watch, as well as in person in the tent. Preparation is key for both these provisions to go well.

What we need from you

  • Please use the upload facility on the Speaker Portal or email speakers@keswickministries.org with your draft notes, updates or final version scripts.
  • The deadline for this is 2 weeks before you attend the Convention. 
  • Watch the short video to hear from our BSL Interpreters and what helps them make a good Convention experience for those who are deaf and hard of hearing needing this provision. (Video to be uploaded)