Wales Interpretation and Translation Service facts for kids
The Wales Interpretation and Translation Service (WITS) is a special organization in Wales. It helps people communicate when they speak different languages. WITS is a non-profit group, which means it doesn't try to make money. Instead, it focuses on helping public services like local councils, police, and health services. They offer help 24 hours a day!
WITS provides different language services, including:
- Interpreting: This is when someone helps people speak to each other in real-time, like during a meeting or a phone call.
- Translation: This is changing written words from one language to another, like a document or a letter.
- Transcription: This is writing down what someone says, like from an audio recording.
They work with about 135 different languages and dialects, even British Sign Language (BSL) for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The language experts who work for WITS are carefully checked and trained to be very good at what they do.
How WITS Started
The Wales Interpretation and Translation Service began in November 2009. It was officially set up on October 13, 2010. It received its first money from the National Assembly for Wales, City of Cardiff Council, and Gwent Police.
The main goals of WITS were to:
- Help people who have trouble communicating because of language differences.
- Make it easier for everyone to use public services, no matter what language they speak.
- Help people feel more included in their communities.
- Improve how different groups of people get along.
In 2017, it was decided that Cardiff Council would take over the main responsibility for WITS from Gwent Police.
See Also
