Lipspeaker UK

30/10/2026

Halloween is the one time of year when hiding behind a mask, turning down the lights and filling a room with fog is all part of the fun 🎃

Deaf people love Halloween too but it can throw us some challenges. Imagine trying to lipread someone dressed as a zombie, or follow a BSL conversation when the room is full of smoke.

Not quite so much fun.

We love a bit of Halloween creativity, but it's worth remembering that some of the things we do to create a spooky atmosphere can also make communication more difficult for deaf people.

And no, the answer isn't to expect someone to take themselves off to a quieter corner🤦‍♀️

Our 5 top tips explore some of these Halloween hazards and the simple things we can do to make sure everyone gets to enjoy the occasion.

Happy Halloween from Lipspeaker UK!

29/10/2026

Have YOU got what it takes to be the next Star Baker?

Love Productions are looking for a new batch of bakers for the next series of The Great British Bake Off and they want to hear from you!

If you or someone you know is a talented home baker, then apply now:

www.applyforbakeoff.co.uk
[email protected]
0117 456 8530

Closing date for applications is 1pm on Friday 11th December 2026.”

We’re looking for the next batch of bakers for the 18th series of The Great British Bake Off.

27/10/2026

Our teaching team are busy preparing for our next Deaf Awareness Training session!

One of the things we value about our training is that it is delivered by deaf trainers, bringing their own experiences and perspectives into the conversation.

Deaf awareness is about more than knowing a few communication tips. It's about understanding different experiences of deafness, challenging assumptions and recognising how small changes can make everyday communication more accessible.

At Lipspeaker UK, we provide Deaf Awareness Training for organisations and teams looking to build their knowledge and confidence.

We've also put together a free Deaf Awareness Basics guide, which you can download from our website alongside more information about our training.

Neil Mason Deaf Awareness Trainer (in BSL) Lesley Weatherson Deaf Awareness Trainer (in English) Want to Know the Answers to some of Those Difficult Questions? Lipspeaker UK offers deaf awareness training for businesses and government departments to improve their knowledge and give insight into work...

26/10/2026

We hope everyone stayed safe and well over the weekend, particularly with the wild weather we've had!

As we start another week, just a little reminder that our team is here if you have any questions about our services, bookings or upcoming training.

You can get in touch at:

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.lipspeaker.co.uk

Wishing everyone a good week ahead!

22/10/2026

The finalists for the Deaf Sports Personality of the Year have been announced, and now it's time to get voting!

The awards celebrate the achievements of deaf athletes and their contributions to sport, recognising talent, dedication and sporting success across a range of disciplines.

Recognition matters. Deaf athletes deserve the same visibility and celebration as their hearing counterparts, and these awards provide an important opportunity to shine a spotlight on their achievements.

Take a look at this year's shortlisted athletes and cast your vote!

20/10/2026

The invisible work of having an invisible disability.

Living with an invisible disability can involve more than managing the disability itself. Sometimes, it means managing other people's reactions to it.

Explaining why you need an adjustment. Reassuring someone who feels awkward. Answering questions about your health that you would rather keep private. Feeling you need to prove that your needs are genuine.

These interactions might seem small individually, but the effort can add up.

During Invisible Disabilities Week, perhaps we should think about something that receives less attention.

How much responsibility do we place on disabled people to make everyone else feel comfortable?

Awareness isn't just about recognising that a disability may not be visible. It's also about recognising when our own expectations create additional work for someone else.

19/10/2026

Going to a gig, a show or a match? Our friends at Performance Interpreting have a free app worth having on your phone.

PI Events has handy tools for lipreaders: a card that asks staff to face you, an order card for noisy bars, and Speech to Text for quieter moments.

Free on iPhone and Android. Search “PI Events”.

16/10/2026

It's Friday, and we're ending the week with a little appreciation.

To our clients who continue to put their trust in us, the professionals we work alongside, and our wonderful team behind the scenes.

We know that good working relationships are built over time, and we really do appreciate the people who make what we do possible.

Thank you for being part of Lipspeaker UK.

14/10/2026

Spoiler alert 🚨 October Lipspeaking Challenge answers below!

REcord – a vinyl record or written record (noun)
reCORD – to record a video (verb)
PREsent – a gift (noun)
preSENT – to give a presentation (verb)
CONtent – information or material (noun)

The capital letters show which syllable is stressed.

How many did you get right

Last month, you told us our Lipspeaking Challenge was too easy. So, we've ramped things up a little for October!

This month, we're exploring how word stress changes meaning.

We're not talking about feeling stressed! We're talking about which syllable we emphasise when speaking.

For example, take the word 'object':

OBject = a thing
obJECT = to disagree

Same spelling, two different meanings, depending on which syllable we emphasise.

The tricky part? That emphasis isn't always visible on the lips!

We've got five words for you to work out. Can you tell which meaning is intended?

Watch carefully and share your guesses in the comments. Let's see if we've made it difficult enough this time!

A little note about our challenges: Our lipreading challenges are simplified, educational examples designed to highlight specific lipreading skills and the technical challenges involved in lipreading. They are not intended to represent everyday conversations or real life lipreading. Not all deaf people sign, and not all deaf people lipread.

Video Description: A female lipspeaker with short blonde hair and glasses faces the camera against a plain blue background. Wearing a dark top, she silently mouths five words for viewers to identify. The camera remains still throughout.

13/10/2026

We’re always happy to welcome new freelance professionals to the Lipspeaker UK network.

We work with lipspeakers, BSL interpreters, notetakers, speech-to-text reporters and other qualified communication professionals across the UK.

We’ve made it easy to register your interest in working with us through our website, where you can also find out a little more about what we offer.

Register as a freelance language service professional with us. Work with deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and deafblind clients across the UK.