Putting people, wellbeing and community at the heart of language services
We’re incredibly proud to share that Silent Sounds Communications has been featured in the July 2026 edition of ITI Insight magazine – the first time a language service provider has been featured in this way.
You can find us on pages 32–34 of the latest edition, where we have the opportunity to share something that sits at the very heart of who we are: our people, our community and our commitment to social value.
For us, this recognition is about much more than being featured in a professional publication. It is an opportunity to celebrate the people who make language services what they are – interpreters, translators, Deaf professionals, employees, clients and the communities we support.
Putting people at the centre
Language services are, ultimately, about people. Every day, interpreters and translators help people communicate during some of the most important, challenging and sometimes difficult moments of their lives. They work across healthcare, education, public services, legal settings and many other environments where being understood can make a genuine difference.
But while we talk about the impact language professionals have on the people they support, it is equally important to recognise the impact the work can have on the interpreters themselves.
Interpreters can find themselves moving between emotionally demanding assignments, carrying the responsibility of facilitating communication in situations involving illness, trauma, family circumstances or significant life events.
That is why interpreter wellbeing matters.
At Silent Sounds, we want our interpreters to know that they are valued as professionals and, importantly, as people. Supporting interpreter wellbeing isn’t something we see as an optional extra. It is part of creating a healthier, more sustainable profession.
Wellbeing goes beyond the workplace
The same principle applies to our employees. We believe that creating a positive working environment isn’t simply about productivity or performance. It is about creating a culture where people feel supported, listened to and able to contribute.
Over the past year, wellbeing has continued to be an important part of life at Silent Sounds – from team activities and wellbeing initiatives to conversations around mental health, emotional resilience and the particular pressures associated with working in language services.We have also recognised the importance of understanding vicarious trauma and the emotional impact that supporting others can sometimes have on professionals. These conversations matter because wellbeing should not be something we talk about only when someone is struggling. It should be part of the culture we create every day.
Our community is part of our identity
Our commitment to social value extends beyond our employees and interpreter network. As a language service provider, we are fortunate to work within communities that are incredibly diverse. That gives us an opportunity – and a responsibility – to contribute positively to those communities.
Our work with the Deaf community is particularly important to us. Through Deaf awareness initiatives, community events, volunteering, fundraising and partnerships with local organisations, we try to use our skills and experience to make a practical difference.
From supporting Deaf awareness activities to creating opportunities for Deaf children and families, these initiatives remind us that accessibility isn’t simply something to provide as a service. It is something to actively champion.
Our recent community initiatives have included Deaf awareness events, support for local organisations and our work to create more inclusive opportunities for Deaf children and young people.
These experiences are often just as meaningful for our team and interpreters as they are for the people we are supporting.
Social value isn’t a tick box
Social value can sometimes become a phrase used in tenders, contracts and procurement documents.
For us, it needs to be much more than that.
It is about asking ourselves:
What difference can we make beyond the service we provide?
That might mean creating opportunities for people to develop their skills. It might mean supporting the wellbeing of an interpreter after a particularly difficult assignment. It might mean volunteering within the community, supporting a charity or helping someone experience something they might otherwise have been excluded from.
Sometimes the impact is large and visible.
Sometimes it is one conversation, one person feeling heard, one Deaf child being given the opportunity to participate, or one interpreter knowing that their wellbeing matters.
All of those things count.
Celebrating the people behind the profession
Being featured in ITI Insight gives us an opportunity to celebrate something we don’t always get the chance to say loudly enough:
The people behind language services matter.
The profession is changing. Technology and AI are creating new opportunities and challenges, and the language industry continues to evolve. But at the centre of interpreting remains the human ability to understand context, culture, emotion and meaning – and to connect people when communication matters most. That human contribution deserves recognition. So, while we are delighted to see Silent Sounds Communications featured in ITI Insight, this isn’t really a story about a magazine feature.
It is a story about our interpreters, translators, Deaf professionals, employees, volunteers, partners and the communities we are privileged to work alongside.
They are the reason we continue to believe that language services can do more than remove communication barriers. They can help create connection, inclusion, confidence and belonging. And that is something worth celebrating.
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Interpreters navigating the emotional impact of the job