Manchester language services provider, DA Languages, has been awarded new contracts with several police forces, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The work for the DWP involves interpreting and translating services.

The contract, effective from May this year, will see the company support the DWP in ensuring that limited and non-English speakers – including BSL (British Sign Language) speakers – are able to access services through the use of remote interpreting, face-to-face interpreting and written translation.

Matthew Taylor, DA Languages’ managing director, said: “We understand the difficulties a language barrier can present when trying to access essential services. As a business, ensuring that communities, including the deaf community and limited and non-English speakers, can access these services effectively is at the heart of what we do.”

The DWP is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy.

As the UK’s biggest public service department, it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers.