A Kingston Council-run interpretation service that provides cheap translators could be forced to shut because the council has threatened to withdraw funding.

From this month, Kingston Interpreting Services (KIS), which has been running for a decade, will have to fund itself.

Kingston currently has residents that need translators in Korean, Tamil and Polish among others. Julie Brightman, co-ordinator of KIS, said: “We have got to ensure that we cover our costs.

There are 76 freelance translators that work for the service and help with things such as medical appointments, council queries and interviews.

The service takes more than 100 bookings in a week and has about 60 regular users including Kingston Citizens Advice Bureau and Kingston Refugee Action. More.

See: Your Local Guardian

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