How 121 Captions helps local authorities run inclusive council meetings

Ensuring accessibility and inclusion in council meetings

Local authorities have to ensure that their meetings are accessible to all members of the community, including those who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or non-native speakers. With the increasing focus on inclusivity, many councils are now recognising the need for professional live captioning and sign language interpretation services to improve accessibility.

121 Captions is at the forefront of providing these essential services, helping councils across the UK create a more inclusive environment for their meetings, public consultations, and events.

The importance of live captioning in council meetings

Live captioning plays a critical role in ensuring accessibility and transparency in council meetings. Here’s how it benefits both the council and the public:

• Real-time access to information – Live captioning ensures that Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals can follow discussions as they happen.
• Improved engagement – Accurate captions make it easier for all attendees, including non-native speakers and individuals with auditory processing difficulties, to engage with the content.
• Enhanced record-keeping – Live captions can be converted into transcripts, providing an accurate record of meetings for future reference.
• Compliance with legal requirements – The Equality Act 2010 mandates that public bodies must provide reasonable adjustments to ensure accessibility for disabled individuals. Captioning is a crucial part of meeting these obligations.

Sign language interpretation for full inclusivity

For many Deaf individuals, British Sign Language (BSL) is their first language. Providing BSL interpreters at council meetings ensures that Deaf attendees who rely on sign language can fully participate in discussions. 121 Captions works with highly skilled interpreters to deliver seamless and professional interpretation services, making council meetings truly inclusive.

Supporting councils with seamless solutions

Local authorities often face challenges in coordinating accessibility services for their meetings. Many struggle to find reliable, high-quality support that meets their needs. 121 Captions offers:

• Expert human captioners – Unlike AI-generated captions, our human captioners provide accurate, context-aware captions in real time.
• Flexible service delivery – Whether meetings are held in-person, online, or in a hybrid format, our captioning and sign language services are available for all settings.
• Multi-language support – With a wide range of languages available, we help councils engage with diverse communities and non-English speakers.
• Compliance and training – We offer guidance on best practices for accessibility and can provide Deaf awareness training to ensure council staff understand how to create an inclusive environment.

Working with local authorities to drive accessibility

121 Captions recently engaged with the Local Authorities Event Organisers Group (LAEOG) to showcase our services to councils across England, Scotland and Wales. We understand that councils need reliable solutions to manage the accessibility side of their events and meetings efficiently. Our services are designed to take the stress out of organising inclusion support, allowing councils to focus on delivering high-quality public services.

Why councils should act now

As accessibility regulations continue to evolve, it is vital for councils to proactively adopt inclusive practices. Partnering with 121 Captions ensures compliance, enhances engagement, and fosters trust within the community.

If your council is looking for a professional and experienced partner to provide live captioning and sign language interpretation, get in touch with 121 Captions today. Let’s work together to make every council meeting accessible to all.