Your month ahead - May
4-10, Deaf Awareness Week
This annual campaign focuses on promoting understanding of deafness and improving inclusion for deaf and Deaf people. This year, it highlights the importance of accessible communication and equal access to information and services. The week aims to raise awareness of Deaf culture and British Sign Language, while encouraging individuals, organisations and communities to remove communication barriers.
27-29 (depending on moon sighting), Eid al-Adha, Islam
Eid al-Adha is also known as ‘Big Eid’, and is different from Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha remembers a story from the Qur’an in which Allah asks Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, to prove his faith. When Allah sees that Ibrahim is willing to make the sacrifice, he replaces the boy with a ram. To honour this sacrifice, traditionally Muslims get together and eat a sacrificial animal, donating a portion of the meat to those in need. If you don’t celebrate yourself, wish Muslim colleagues, neighbours and friends an Eid mubarak this year!
May’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 – Beltane, Wicca and Pagan
2 – Twelfth Day of Ridvan, Baha’i
3 – Feast of Saints Philip and James, Catholic Christian
5 – Lag Baomer, Judaism
6 – Midfeast, Orthodox Christian
14 – Ascension of the Lord, Catholic Christian
14 – Feast of Saint Matthias, Catholic Christian
18 – Rohini Vrat, Jain
21 – Feast of the Ascension, Orthodox Christian
22-23 – Shavuot, Judaism
24 – Declaration of the Báb, Baha’i
24 – Pentecost, Catholic Christian
25 – Hajj begins, Islam
26 – Day of Arafah, Islam
27 – Eid Al-Adha begins, Islam
29 – Ascension of Baha‘U’llah, Baha’i
30 – Saturday of Souls, Orthodox Christian
31 – Vesak, Buddhist
31 – Pentecost, Catholic Christian
31 – Trinity Sunday, Catholic Christian
31 – Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholic Christian
31 – Saga Dawa Düchen, Buddhist
Awareness and Events
3 – International Family Equality Day
4-10 – Deaf Awareness Week
8 – World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
11-17 – Mental Health Awareness Week
13 – National Day for Staff Networks
15 – International Day of Families
17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and
Biphobia
21 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
22 – International Day for Biological Diversity
24 – Pansexual Visibility Day
Language fact file - Welsh
Language fact file: Welsh
Welsh is spoken as an official language in: Wales
Number of speakers: 538,000
Learn some: Impress people by commenting on the weather: mae’n braf heddiw (main brahv heth-ee-oo) means ‘it’s nice today’.
Fast facts:
Welsh is one of the oldest living languages in Europe. It has been spoken for more than 1,500 years, which makes it older than English.
Wales also boasts one of the longest place names in Europe, with a village in Anglesey, northwest Wales, called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch!
Despite being right next door, English has relatively few loan words from Welsh. Flannel, corgi and bard are a few, and it is hotly debated among linguists but some believe that penguin came from the Welsh pen gwyn, which means white head.
The Tls Team Story - April
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists or team members.
This month, we meet Lisa Gaunt, a member of our MoJ Quality Assurance Team.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I work within the MoJ Quality Assurance team, supporting assessors who evaluate
interpreters’ performance across a range of settings, both face-to-face and remotely.
Our team is focused on maintaining quality and continuous improvement, ensuring
that the systems and processes we and our assessors use promote consistency,
uphold quality standards and adhere to MoJ requirements.
It is a varied and engaging role, covering a wide range of responsibilities. These
include determining and scheduling assessments, managing assessor payments,
reviewing booking recordings to determine their suitability for assessment, and role-
playing scripted scenarios for interpreters who require further evaluation, among
other tasks.
What's been your favourite project at TLS?
My favourite project to date has been testing the new DARTS system (the audio
recording system used in Crown Courts), which our team uses daily to identify
suitable cases for assessment.
The legacy system presented several challenges due to its age, so I was able to
provide detailed feedback on the features and functionality that would better meet
both our team’s needs and wider TLS requirements.
The feedback from the team was extremely positive, with many noting how much
more streamlined, efficient, and user-friendly the system had become.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest current challenge is completing my final project for the Level 5 CMI
Operational Management apprenticeship, which I have been fortunate to undertake
with the support of management. I am on track to complete this in June.
The apprenticeship has been incredibly valuable, contributing to both my personal
and professional development. Over the past 18 months, I have gained a deeper
understanding of operational processes, both within our organisation and externally,
and have developed a more empathetic and considered approach when working with
colleagues.
I am excited to see how this qualification will further support my development within
TLS.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I was once barred from entering phone-in competitions on Pulse Radio after winning
too frequently—unfortunately, that luck has never extended to my lottery tickets.
I host a book club in Bradford. I initially joined as a “Champion” member, welcoming
and supporting new attendees. When the original host stepped down due to health
reasons, I took on the role after covering several sessions. I thoroughly enjoy it and
am looking forward to celebrating our first anniversary in April.
I have recently taken up sewing, although it sometimes feels more like unpicking
stitches! I have created several items of clothing, including a favourite cord, short-
sleeved long dress. I also successfully altered a satin prom dress for a friend’s
daughter, creatively resolving damage from a steam iron and improving the fit in the
process – all within 2 hours!
Contract Award: Ministry of Justice Language Services Quality and Assurance
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Ministry of Justice Language Services Quality and Assurance Contract, effective from October 2026.
This award reflects the consistently high standards, professionalism and expertise demonstrated over the lifetime of the current QA contract to support the accurate, reliable and safe delivery of language services throughout the justice system.
We are proud to continue supporting the Ministry of Justice and its partners in maintaining quality, safeguarding standards and driving continuous improvement.
As we prepare for the new contract period, we look forward to further strengthening service delivery and collaboration across the sector.
Dates for your diary - April
8, International Romani Day
Celebrated annually since 1971, this day honours the culture, history and contributions of Romani (Roma, Sinti, Kale and others) people around the world, as well as raising awareness of the discrimination many still face. The date commemorates the first major international meeting of Romani representatives in London, where action was taken to start to promote the unique identity and unify Romani peoples.
14, Puthandu, Tamil
Also known as the Tamil New Year celebration, Puthandu is celebrated around mid-April and symbolises new beginnings. Festivities usually begin with kani, an arrangement of fruits, flowers, gold and a mirror, which is said to bring good luck for the year ahead. A typical Puthandu dish is mango pachadi, which has a balance of sweet, sour and bitter flavours to represent the variety of life experiences.
April's dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
2 Hanuman Jayanti, Hindu
2 Maundy Thursday, Christian
2-5 Theravada New Year, Buddhist
2-9 Passover, Judaism
3 Good Friday, Christian
4 Holy Saturday, Christian
4 Lazarus Saturday, Orthodox Christian
5 Easter Sunday, Christian
5 Palm Sunday, Orthodox Christian
6 Easter Monday, Christian
7 Guru Tegh Bahadur Jayanti, Sikh
9 Guru Arjun Dev Jayanti, Sikh
9 Great and Holy Thursday, Orthodox Christian
10 Great and Holy Friday, Orthodox Christian
11 Great and Holy Saturday, Orthodox Christian
12 Pascha (Easter), Orthodox Christian
12 Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholic Christian
13-15 Songkran (Thai New Year), Buddhist
14 Yom Hashoah, Judaism
14 Puthandu, Tamil
14 Vaisakhi, Hindu and Sikh
18 Guru Angad Dev Jayanti, Sikh
19 Akshaya Tritiya, Hindu and Jain
19 Varshitapa Parana Jain
20 Rohini Vrat, Jain
21 First Day of Ridvan, Baha’i
21 Grounation Day, Rastafari
23 Saint George’s Day, Christian
25 Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Catholic Christian
26 Mahavir Swami Kevalagyan, Jain
29 Ninth Day of Ridvan, Baha’i
30 Saint James the Great’s Day, Orthodox Christian
30 Guru Amar Das Jayanti, Sikh
30 Avalokiteshvara Day, Buddhist
30 Apr-4 May Maidyozarem Gahambar, Zoroastrian
Awareness and Events
1 Fools’ Day
2 World Autism Awareness Day
6 International Asexuality Day
7 World Health Day
8 International Romani Day
22 Earth Day
25 World Malaria Day
26 Lesbian Visibility Day
28 World Day for Health and Safety At Work
Language fact file - Romani
Language fact file: Romani
Romani is spoken as a recognised minority language in: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine
Number of speakers: approximately 4.6m
Learn some: Greet someone in Romani by saying ‘sastipe!’, which means ‘health to you’.
Fast facts:
Romani has its roots in northern India, sharing similarities with Hindi, Punjabi and Bengali. Researchers believe that ancestors of the Roma left India between 1,000 and 1,500 years ago, the language has been preserved remarkably well, allowing linguists to make this connection.
However, there are many dialect versions of Romani, which vary according to where the community has settled and which have borrowed from the local languages.
As Romani was predominantly a spoken language for most of its history, it has no formal writing system and can be written using various alphabets, including Cyrillic, Latin and Greek.
The Staff Member’s Story - March
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month however, for something different, we get to know a bit more about Zainub Patel, TLS’s very own client relationship and account manager.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
I’m the client relationship and account manager at TLS, where I look after our client contracts and partnerships. My role is really varied, which is something I enjoy. I create detailed data packs and present insights to our customers, support with any escalations or issues, and work closely with them to make sure we’re delivering the best possible service. A big part of my role is building strong relationships and ensuring our clients feel supported and valued.
What’s been your favourite project at TLS?
One of my favourite parts of the role is creating and supporting training sessions for our interpreters to help them grow and develop. Last year, we worked with a customer to provide additional training around Initial and Review Child Protection Services. The feedback from our interpreters was fantastic - they found it incredibly helpful in understanding the purpose and importance of CPS reviews and their role within them. It was great to see the positive impact the training had, and I learned a lot from the experience as well.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge was definitely when I first stepped into the role. I already understood our customers and how to support them, but I hadn’t fully appreciated just how different their needs and services can be. Learning how important it is to tailor our approach to each individual customer was a real turning point for me. Since then, I’ve grown so much in confidence and experience, and I’ve developed a stronger understanding of how to deliver truly personalised support.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I’ve recently started to try and learn Python, which is a programming language used to build websites and software. I’m really enjoying it so far! It’s challenging in a good way and feels like a great opportunity to expand my skills and try something new outside of my day-to-day role.
Your month ahead - dates for your diary (March)
3, Purim, Judaism
A joyous festival, Purim is known for its fancy dress costumes worn by Jewish children. Its story tells of a time when Jews living in Persia were saved from extermination by a Jewish woman named Esther. The villain, a man called Haman, had plotted to overthrow the king and become leader himself, but Esther revealed his plans to the king, saving her people. In synagogues during Purim, the Book of Esther is read. When Haman’s name is mentioned, the congregation tries to drown it out.
29, Palm Sunday, Christianity
Held on the Sunday before Easter, this festival remembers the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, before his arrest and crucifixion. As was customary in the day, people welcomed him into the city by scattering palm branches on the ground in front of him. Today, Christians honour this occasion with a special mass at church, where children hold palm fronds in a procession.
March's dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 – St David’s Day, Christian
1 – Feast of Orthodoxy, Orthodox Christian
2 – Nineteen-Day Fast begins, Baha’i
2 – Holika Dahan Hindu
3 – Phalguna Chaumasi Chaudas, Jain
3 – Chötrul Düchen, Buddhist
3 – Hina Matsuri, Shinto
3 – Magha Puja, Buddhist
3 – Purim, Judaism
3 – Holi, Hindu
4-6 – Hola Mohalla, Sikh
11 – Varshitapa Arambha, Jain
14 – Nanakshahi (New Year), Sikh
16 – Laylat Al-Qadr, Islam
16-20 – Hamaspathmaidyem Gahambar, Zoroastrian
17 – St Patrick’s Day, Christian
19 – Feast of Saint Joseph, Christian
19 – Chaitra Navratri begins, Hindu
19 – Ugadi (New Year), Hindu
20 – Eid Al-Fitr, Islam
20 – Shunbun No Hi, Shinto
20 – Ostara, Wicca and Pagan
20 – Nowruz (New Year), Persian and Zoroastrian
21 – Naw-Rúz, Bahá’í
24 – Rohini Vrat, Jain
25 – Chaitra Navapada Oli begins, Jain
25 – Annunciation of the Lord, Catholic Christian
25 – Annunciation to the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
25 – Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Christian
26 – Khordad Sal, Zoroastrian
26 – Rama Navami, Hindu
29 – Palm Sunday, Catholic Christian
31 – Mahavir Swami Jayanti, Jain
Awareness and Events
1 – Zero Discrimination Day
1 – International Wheelchair Day
3 – World Hearing Day
8 – International Women’s Day
15 – Mother’s Day
16-22 – Neurodiversity Celebration Week
20 – Spring Equinox
21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21 – World Down Syndrome Day
24 – World Tuberculosis (TB) Day
25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
30 – World Bipolar Day
31 – International Trans Day of Visibility
language fact file: Amharic
Amharic is spoken as a language in: Ethiopia
Number of speakers: 60 million (as first and second language)
Learn some: Common pleasantries include ‘selam’ (ሰላም), which means hello, and ‘ameseginalew’ (አመሰግናለሁ), which is thank you.
Fast facts:
Amharic is a semitic language, so has links to Arabic and Hebrew, and has its roots firmly in Africa. It is the world’s second most widely spoken semitic language (after Arabic).
It has a writing system often called Fidel, with more than 200 characters, each of which is made up of a consonant and a vowel. The script dates to between the first and fourth centuries but was adapted for Amharic around the thirteenth or fourteenth century. Thanks to this longevity, there is a wealth of literature available in the language, giving historical and cultural insight.
Outside of Ethiopia, Amharic has particular importance to followers of Rastafarianism, which takes its name from former leader Haile Selassie (whose non-royal name was Ras Täfäri). The language has been linked to the Pan Africanism movement and there have been several reggae songs written in Amharic.
The Linguist’s Story - February
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month, we introduce you to Tedla Amde, an interpreter working in Amharic.
Tell us about your work for TLS.
I work as an interpreter for TLS, providing Amharic-English and English-Amharic interpretation services, helping individuals and organisations communicate effectively and confidently.
What has been your favourite project at TLS?
One of my favourite projects with TLS so far was working in a primary school, interpreting for a mother whose child was severely autistic. The experience was incredibly rewarding. I was able to help her clearly communicate her needs and concerns, discuss what had been working and what hadn’t, and ensure all her questions were fully addressed. Being able to support meaningful communication between the family and the school made this assignment especially fulfilling.
What has been your biggest challenge?
One of my biggest challenges has been face-to-face assignments where a client does not attend the appointment. Considerable effort often goes into planning sessions, and travel and logistical costs may also be incurred.
Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?
To be honest, I truly feel that the work I do makes a real difference in people’s lives. When individuals can clearly communicate everything they need and put their points across in the way they intend, it can genuinely help address their needs and, in many cases, change their lives. This feels especially true when working with children with special needs and their parents. Supporting families through those conversations, easing parental anxiety, and helping to ensure families receive the support they need is the part of my work that I feel has the most meaningful and lasting impact.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I have lived in three different countries: Ethiopia, the UK, and the United States. I previously worked as a nurse, which has given me a broad and diverse professional background. This experience is especially valuable in my role as an interpreter particularly during health, physiotherapy or mental health appointments.