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What Are You Worth (WAYW) logo

What Are You Worth program

The WAYW program has been delivered to over 1,600 language service professionals over the past 15 years. The program is suitable for all levels of interpreters from final year students and early career to the very experienced. It has been designed to meet the needs of (mainly) freelance sign language interpreters to develop, grow and deliver viable and sustainable interpreting services for the long term. The program evolves and is updated to reflect the ever-changing business, political, economic, and social challenges faced.

What Are You Worth Program Structure

  • Being psychologically ready to be business ready.
  • Understanding the business of interpreting.
  • Being business ready.
  • Risks and opportunities, now and in the future.
  • What next, continuing the work of WAYW.

Meet the trainers

Darren TownsendHandscomb

WAYW Presenter: Psychology & Worth

Growing up with a Deaf mum Darren started language brokering aged three, working for 35 years as an interpreter since then. In his career he has: worked as a staff interpreter; managed interpreting teams; run a national interpreting service; and worked freelance for agencies and direct with customers, both face to face and as a remote interpreter.

Darren has interpreted in a wide range of domains, specialising variously in community and legal interpreting, working with deaf professionals, and mental health / psychological contexts.

As well as interpreting Darren is a trainer, qualified psychologist, and runs two voluntary projects; The Gambia Interpreter Project and DeafATW.

Benjamin Phillips

WAYW Presenter: Business & Worth

Ben, a Registered Sign Language Interpreter (RSLI) for 29 years, has worked across various domains, including specialist domains of media (in-vision), legal, mental health, and the emerging technology sector.

Ben’s extensive experience includes working as an employed interpreter, a freelance interpreter, a trainer, and a business consultant. This diverse background has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the interpreting industry. 

In recent years, he has had the opportunity of living and working alongside sign and spoken language interpreters in the Dominican Republic, Cape Verde, Thailand, and India, further enriching his experiences as a frontline practitioner and educator.

WAYW Participant@WAYW Northern Ireland
What are we worth? “Realising that my worth is more than the amount I am financially compensated for. My skills shouldn't be defined by time but by my skills, experience and what I'm bringing to the table.”
WAYW Participant@WAYW Leeds
[I now know to] “to stand my ground and not feel as if I need to justify myself when it comes to taking on (or not) certain elements for work and negotiating fees for remote interpreting assignments.”
WAYW Participant
WAYW Participant@WAYW New Zealand
“I also … have learned that we are all in the same boat (or in the same storm but different boats alongside each other) and any fears or worries that I might have felt I was experiencing alone are actually being shared with other valued interpreters around the country.”
WAYW Participant
WAYW Participant@WAYW Scotland
What are we worth? “Realising that my worth is more than the amount I am financially compensated for. My skills shouldn't be defined by time but by my skills, experience and what I'm bringing to the table.”

Join our next program

20th September 2025

Preston

We are excited to welcome you to the Cotton Court Business Centre in Preston for our upcoming What Are You Worth Program. Refreshments and lunch will be provided throughout the day, and BSL interpreters will be available.

Tickets are priced at £150.00.

For more information or to book a ticket, please contact our hosts, Heart BSL and Visual Communications Ltd, at bsl365.interpreter@gmail.com

Alternatively complete the form below and we will send it on for you.  

WAYW Preston Inquiry form