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Published 12 October 2023

Language Strategy

1.0 Access to Council Services

Numbering Language Action   Responsible Department (Resourcing to be confirmed) Immediate Priority Longer term Priority
1.1 All Provision and promotion of interpretation and translation services across the Council.
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  Yes
1.2 Minority Ethnic Communities To explore the development of a signposting database, including identifying already available advice, on how to access public services in Belfast through different languages including an exploration of what may already be available and promoting this information.  
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  • Good Relations
  • Marketing and Communications
  Yes
1.3 Minority Ethnic Communities To continue to provide good quality of automated translation software on external website. 
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
Yes  
1.4 Disability Communications To develop guidance to support departments in the accessibility to Council documents, services and facilities from a disability perspective. 
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  • All departments
Yes  
1.5 Irish Creation and promotion of a [email protected] email address and website page explaining how the public can contact us in Irish.
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
Yes  
1.6 Irish Codify the arrangements for the use of Irish in Council meetings.
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
Yes  
1.7 All Languages Ensure Council-run events and festivals have regard to the promotion of different languages and encourage the delivery of relevant events in City Hall.
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  • Place and Economy, Economic Development
  • City and Neighbourhood Services
Yes  
1.8 Irish Develop a list of key strategic Council documents and publications to proactively be made available in Irish.
  • Legal and Civic Services/EDU
  • Lead department
  • Marketing and Communications
Yes  
1.9 Minority Ethnic Communities To provide information on the website (and City Matters) on how to use the translation function on the website, how to telephone the council using BigWord and requesting an interpreter or documents in an alternative language.  
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Customer Focus
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  • Good Relations  
Yes      
1.10 Irish Develop a protocol for the provision of Irish press statements where the subject relates to Irish or is related to a key strategic Council initiative where resources and timing permit.  
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
Yes      
1.11 Irish Irish Language content will be provided across the Council’s social media platforms when the subject relates to Irish and where resources and timing permit.
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
Yes  
1.12 All Requests for social media content in other languages where it relates to specific events or celebrations associated with the Council will be accommodated, where possible.  
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
Yes  
1.13 Sign Languages To provide a clear description on website and City Matters of what services are available in Sign Languages to members of the public.
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  • Customer Focus
Yes  
1.14 All Develop an approach to provide regular content in other languages in each edition of City Matters. This will be developed in line with agreed parameters at Annex 1.
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  • Good Relations  
Yes  
1.15 All Review protocols for staff to support non-English speaking customers to include a code of courtesy for indigenous languages and provision of cultural awareness training.
  • Customer Hub
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU  
Yes  
1.16 All languages Carry out an audit of Council staff to assess language capability.
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  • Corporate HR
Yes  
1.17 Irish Develop a corporate Irish language policy, based on best practice, including an approach to signage.  
  • All Departments
Yes  
1.18 Ulster-Scots Develop a corporate Ulster-Scots language policy, based on best practice, including an approach to signage.  
  • All Departments
Yes  
1.19 All Include consideration of opportunities for development of language skills in staff development and process.
  • Customer Hub
  • Human Resources
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  Yes
1.20 Sign Languages To expand the provision of Sign Language translation on popular pages on the website
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
  • Marketing and Communications
  Yes
1.21 All To ensure operating partners such as GLL provide appropriate language interpretation and translation services.  
  • Legal and Civic Services, EDU
Yes  
1.22 Irish Explore the provision simultaneous interpretation for Members who wish to address the Council through the medium of Irish.  
  • Legal and Civic Services
  Yes
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