Volunteers are being encouraged to take up sign language as an extra skill.

Signs4life is a new initiative based at Enfield Town library in Church Street, Enfield, which aims to help people communicate with colleagues who have hearing difficulties.

Signs4Life tutor Sara Phillips said: “You never know when you will come into contact with a client, a colleague or member of the public who is autistic, deaf or visually impaired.”

There are more than nine million deaf and hard of hearing people registered in the UK.

Each of the scheme’s workshops are designed to help people communicate with the 12 million people in the UK who have a physical, sensory or learning disability.

The initiative’s next community workshop is taking place at Enfield Town Library, Church Street, on September 18.