Let's talk
You don't need to fill in a complicated booking form. Send me the date, the location, what the booking is and anything else you already know. If I'm available, we'll take it from there — and if I'm not, I'll say so at once so you can keep looking.
Tell me these and I can usually answer in one reply
- Date, start time and expected finish time
- Full address, or the platform if it’s remote
- The setting — medical, workplace, conference, performance
- Who will be there, and who the Deaf participants are
- Anything I should prepare from: agenda, script, slides, running order
- Who is paying — Access to Work, an employer, a venue, an individual
Before you email
Where do you work, and what happens for bookings outside Bristol?
I work principally in Bristol, and I do travel further afield. For those bookings the chargeable period runs from the moment I leave home until I get back, unless we've agreed something different in advance. Either way, I'll confirm it in writing before the booking is fixed.
How far ahead should I book?
As early as you can — registered interpreters are a small pool in any one area, and popular dates go quickly. Performance work needs the most notice, since preparing from a script or score is part of the job. That said, short-notice enquiries are always worth sending.
Can you invoice through Access to Work?
Yes. Say so in your first email and I'll set the paperwork up accordingly. If you're still working out what to apply for, tell me and I'll explain how interpreter bookings usually run.
Is what is said confidential?
Yes. Registered interpreters work to the NRCPD Code of Conduct, which binds me to confidentiality and impartiality. What happens in the assignment stays there, and the same applies to any interpreter I co-work with.
Why do some bookings need two interpreters?
Interpreting is demanding work, and accuracy falls away over a long stretch. So for longer assignments, conferences and performances, two registered interpreters work as a team and swap at intervals. I'll tell you at the quoting stage if a booking calls for it.
What are your cancellation terms?
Notice is counted in calendar days before the booking date.
| 15 days or more | No fee |
|---|---|
| 8 to 14 days | 50% of the total fee |
| 7 days or fewer | 100% of the total fee |
Expenses already incurred, such as travel and tickets, are chargeable in full whenever a booking is cancelled.
If a date or time needs to move, tell me as early as you can and I'll do my best to accommodate it. If I'm not free for the new slot, the change is treated as a cancellation and the notice above applies.
Full terms are confirmed in writing when I accept a booking.
How do I check your registration?
Search NRCPD number 1016511 on the NRCPD public register. It'll show my registration status and category — worth checking for any interpreter you book.