Our Story
Love Language was established in 2013, a point in time where we recognised the need to rethink how we create diversity within organisations, and move past quota-driven notions emerging purely from legality and political correctness.
We work towards a reimagined notion of diversity as something that is invaluable and integral to a sense of local, national and global connectivity. As a company, we work to create the type of connectivity that can be felt within personal networks, organisations and national government.
Love Language aspires to create a responsive ecosystem between organisations and the various communities they serve, supporting them to reflect and enhance each other, leading to a society in which all members are valued for their varied contributions, expertise and personal experiences.
Within the company we have created a flexible and supportive network, where new and experienced interpreters can work alongside each other and share practice and mentorship alongside our Deaf experts to give interpreters at all stages in their career the opportunity to develop and grow in all areas.
Who we are
Naomi Bottrill
Co-Director
“Learning BSL and being welcomed into a unique global Deaf community has been the best journey I have ever taken.”
Naomi stumbled across British Sign Language by accident as a teenager, but quickly fell in love with the language. Training in fine art, she was wired up to the visual world, so BSL suited her perfectly.
“Being a visual thinker, something that is true for many people, I couldn’t have found a more freeing form of communication. The language possesses artistic and mathematical qualities which make it an incredibly accurate language, conveying so much detail when advanced language skills are met with knowledge.”
Naomi’s growing respect for sign language and its community led her to train as a BSL/ English interpreter – a job which would take her all over the UK and around the world. After working in the field for over 15 years, Naomi became aware of how Deaf culture was fast becoming redefined in popular culture through the advancement of technology and the reemergence of visual communications through the rise of social media platforms. After centuries of Deaf people fighting for their voices to be heard, they were now at the forefront of social media and digital communications demonstrating excellence in their many varied industries.
Naomi aims to create opportunities through Love Language for more organisations to benefit from the unique qualities of the Deaf community as she has done.
“We love Sign Language, we know it’s infectious and that it doesn’t need much of a marketing campaign. All it requires is people passionate enough about it to share it with others.”
Naomi’s likes: A flat white, anything French, and a wooden mountain shack to bring her down from the hectic pace of the city.
Rezene Woldeyesus
Co-Director
“BSL allowed me to go from refugee to honouree Brit and head a company doing what I love. I’ve always believed that anything is possible if you don’t give up hope.”
After arriving in the UK from Eritrea, a journey that could have cost him his life, Rez struggled through a long, inaccessible court process before being granted refugee status.
Being without family, with very few connections, and only rudimentary English to communicate with, Rez was dependent on the kindness of strangers and charity during his first few years in the U.K.
“My family and I were expelled from Ethiopia back to Eritrea through a process of social cleansing during the civil war. I knew I had to escape, accepting that leaving all that I knew to risk my life for an unknown future was better than living with the restricted human rights we had.”
With American Sign Language being his only language, and with limited written English due to lack of educational opportunities, Rez found himself in the UK, safe but with many new struggles to navigate ahead.
After a three year period without citizenship status, Rez was granted indefinite leave to remain. Learning BSL would be his passport to establishing himself and taking part in modern British life.
“Having access to services in sign language was my lifeline. Many Deaf people are denied the appropriate education needed to equip them with the skills needed to fully participate in society, living in a world where sign language is largely unrecognised. Two causes to which I’m dedicated to are seeing that Deaf people get access to services in sign language and that Deaf children are granted a bilingual education.”
Ten years after leaving his home country, Rez is now a co-director at Love Language, a company he believes is uniquely placed to lead change through example. The company prides itself on its diverse perspectives made up of the incredible Deaf and hearing people in their team.
Rez’s likes: Jasmine tea, finding new stories in the lives of the people he meets, and bringing smiles to people’s faces by pulling a few practical jokes.