PEOPLE across Keighley are being encouraged to take-up sign language.

The Signs4Life scheme aims to boost the number of people able to communicate and engage with children and adults who have hearing impairments.

Work has already been carried out with a range of organisations and attractions across Yorkshire – from York Minster and Leeds College of Art, to Whitby air cadets and the Science and Media Museum in Bradford.

But now the initiative is being widened.

Hana Riaz, Signs4Life programme manager, said: “We wanted to open-up our programmes to the general public who might also have an interest in learning sign language, especially now that many people are stuck at home during this third lockdown.

“We are offering a free six-week British Sign Language programme, which people can enjoy and access from the comfort of their own home, delivered through Zoom.”

More than nine million people in the UK are registered as being hearing-impaired.

Signs4Life pledges to work towards a society in which people with disabilities have full access and strives to raise public and political awareness of disability provision.

The sign language community programmes are due to start after the February half-term. For more details, email hana.riaz@signs4life.org.