BSL For You is passionate about providing accessible education with quality BSL/English interpreting.

BSL For You is direct, supportive, student-focused.

BSL For You is registered with Student Finance England as a Non-Medical Help (NMH) Provider.

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Are you a Deaf or hard of hearing student going to college or university? Do you need BSL support?

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My name is Helen Andrews and I’m a fully qualified, experienced British Sign Language (BSL)/English Interpreter registered with NRCPD, Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI) and Visual Language Professionals (VLP).  I have worked with  Deaf people since 2007 and I’m passionate about ensuring Deaf students receive high-quality, tailored support in their education — without the unnecessary costs and headaches that can come from agency overheads and their contract criteria with interpreters.

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Why Choose BSL For You?

Many students are assigned interpreters through large agencies. In my experience — and that of many others — this can come with downsides:

• Agencies charge a "top-up" fee on top of the interpreter’s rate, eating into your DSA (Disabled Students’ Allowance) budget.

• You might not know who you are getting, and consistency and continuity can be lost.

• Interpreters often face layers of agency admin and restrictions, which can affect flexibility and quality of service.

• I offer a small, dedicated service because I believe in doing this work well, not widely. As one person, I intentionally keep my student list limited to maintain quality and build meaningful relationships, however,  I also co-work with a highly experienced interpreter whose full support ensures that, when more hours are needed, together we can provide seamless and reliable coverage.

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When you work directly with BSL For You:

• Your entire budget goes to the actual support you need, not to an agency middleperson.

• You get clear, direct communication with your interpreter from the start.

• You build trust and consistency, vital for effective learning.

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Services Provided

BSL For You is registered to provide:

British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreting for Deaf  students (3-hour minimum per booking; cancellation fees and mileage policies apply)

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How It Works – Getting Support Through DSA

If you are applying or have been approved for DSA, here’s how you can work with me directly:

1. Apply for DSA through Student Finance England

2. Attend your Needs Assessment — ask the assessor to recommend Helen Andrews at BSL For You as your preferred Non-Medical Help provider for BSL interpreting.

3. Once your DSA2 Letter is issued, contact Helen with a copy of your entitlement.

4. We’ll arrange a short introductory meeting and get your support started — usually within a few days.

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Needs Assessors, please note:
I offer a direct, independent BSL service, with flexible and fair terms. Minimum session duration and mileage rates are clearly defined in the support agreement.

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About BSL For You

Helen Andrews, RSLI

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Qualifications:

Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting

IBSL Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language Studies

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Professional Memberships:

Member of ASLI  |  Member of VLP   |   Registered with NRCPD

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With almost 20 years’ experience working across the education sector, I have witnessed first-hand the difference that continuity, trust, and genuine understanding make in a student’s academic journey. I work collaboratively with students, assessors, and institutions to make education more accessible by removing communication barriers and ensuring students can succeed through consistent, high-quality, and hassle-free interpreting support.

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If you are a student, assessor, or education professional  and would like more information— please do get in touch: