We help our customers with translation if English is not their first language. We also provide a sign language service for deaf people.
You may need help in talking to us if you don’t speak English well, or you may need a letter or written documents, like bills, explained.
Sign language interpreting service
We provide a confidential, professional and highly qualified interpretation between sign language and spoken English.
We aim to be as flexible and responsive as possible and will act as an aid to communication between deaf and hearing people.
We can help with a variety of council-related processes, including:
- council tax enquiries
- housing and council tax benefit enquiries
- welfare rights services.
How to use the sign language interpreting service
Our sign-language interpreters are based at AccessPoint in Catford. Contact details for AccessPoint are at the bottom of this page.
Visit or call us at AccessPoint to use our sign language interpreting service.
Translation service
We have qualified interpreters who provide telephone interpretation in 140 different languages.
You can use this service when:
- you telephone us at Call Point
- you visit one of our AccessPoints.
The service is always free.
How to use the telephone translation service
If you need to use our translation service, simply tell us which language you require.
We will call our translation service, who will provide an interpreter within five minutes.
You will then be able to speak to us in a three-way telephone conference.
Face-to-face translation
We can arrange for translators and signers to be present at face-to-face meetings, such as social care meetings and school meetings.
If you would like a translator or signer to be present at a meeting that you are attending, please inform the person, school or department with whom you are meeting at least five days in advance.
Publications
If you need a Lewisham Council document translated, please see the translation statement and contact phone number, which will be reproduced on the back of the relevant Lewisham publication.
Useful websites
The Multikulti website aims 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.
Follow the link in 'useful websites' on the right of this page to view the website.