National Deaf Children's Society

We begin this month's newsletter by remembering our former Vice President, Esther Rantzen, and her longstanding support for deaf children and young people. From new BSL story translations and community grants to an inspiring family story and award-winning work, there's plenty to catch up on in this month's newsletter. Read our October edition for the latest news, stories and opportunities from across the National Deaf Children's Society 👇

“It’s calm, there’s no background music, no sensory overload. Interpreters help with communication and the volunteers are deaf aware or use British Sign Language. David loved it. He was happy to be involved, asking questions, signing and holding the animals. And for me, for a few hours, I didn’t have to be on edge. I can sit back, relax and enjoy the show.” Tracey, mum to David. Kent Deaf Children's Society is a thriving community supported by volunteers and parents. Louise, who runs the group, was delighted when she heard about community grants. "We had an idea for a project around language and communication. We wanted to encourage families to explore sign language together, but in a way that was accessible, engaging and fun for younger children." The group received community grant funding for a series of Animal Encounter workshops for young children. The sessions introduced them to rabbits and guinea pigs, snakes and bearded dragons. As they interacted with the animals, they also learned the signs. Louise and her team gave out bags full of resources and goodies to the children as they left. They also plan to create a follow-up book and video to help families keep practising and build on what they’ve learned. Louise saw a positive impact from the workshops: "New families joined our community. Children who were shy became more confident. Families began to see new possibilities, learning that communication can take many forms. What I love most is that when parents see their child engage in sign language, they become more confident in what's possible. They realise that they can do it.” Experiences like these have a lasting impact on deaf children and their families. Find out more about applying for a community grant on our website: https://lnkd.in/eFkYzGeq

We're delighted to have been named Organisation of the Year at the Lean Competency System Awards.   The judges celebrated how we've used continuous improvement to fulfil our social purpose, ensuring more deaf children and their families receive the support they need, with their voices at the heart of our work.   Simon Garry, Lean Transformation Specialist, said:   "This award is a recognition of a sustained, continuous effort across our entire organisation to innovate and support deaf children and their families. From embracing Lean thinking and adopting new ways of working to attending training and supporting transformation projects, we're committed to driving our vision forward every day."

Our beloved children's book, 'Elephant and the Lost Blanket', is now available to watch in British Sign Language (BSL)! 🐘 📖 We're celebrating International Day of Sign Languages by launching a brand new version of the story, which stars Elephant, who wears hearing aids, and Tiger, who wears cochlear implants. Stories in BSL and books featuring deaf characters help children and families share the joy of storytelling together. They also play an important role in supporting language development, building confidence and encouraging early literacy skills. Alongside the story, we've also provided a glossary of key signs from the book. Share the link below with families you work with to help support language and communication in the early years. That's not all! We're bringing you three more stories over the coming months, thanks to funding from Next. Find out more details and watch the story here https://lnkd.in/ei2yreFb

“Ela needs more help now than she ever did before.” When Ela was just two weeks old, mum Kim was told that her daughter was deaf in one ear. What followed was a blur of tests, scans and uncertainty as the family tried to understand what Ela’s deafness would mean for her future. At first, wearing a hearing aid made a huge difference. But Ela’s hearing has since deteriorated. She is now profoundly deaf in her left ear and can no longer wear a hearing aid. As Ela starts school this month, Kim knows she’ll need more support than ever – but she knows she won’t have to face that alone: “I’ve got support from the National Deaf Children’s Society. It just gives me the confidence to know that if I ask a question, I can seek help. I couldn’t have got through this journey without them.” Your donation could help another deaf child and their family get the information, advice and support they need as they navigate their own journey. Please support our vital work today by making a donation: https://lnkd.in/ebNQsRik

Could your project make a difference for deaf children and their families? Community grants are now open for applications. Groups can apply for up to £10,000 in funding to support projects that: - help deaf children and young people play, learn and grow in confidence - bring families and communities together - create lasting impact and opportunities across the UK Find out more and apply on our website: https://lnkd.in/eFkYzGeq

A new school year can bring lots of new questions. Remember, you don't have to have all the answers. Whether you're supporting a deaf child to learn at home or in the classroom, we're here to help 💜 We have free information, resources and guidance to help families and education professionals support deaf children throughout their education. Swipe to see some of the ways we can help 👉 Explore our education information and resources for education professionals on our website: https://lnkd.in/eKNG89EU And if you’re not sure where to start, our free Helpline is here to offer information, advice and guidance.

Welcome to storytime with 'Gruffalo Granny'! We're thrilled to be partnering with Macmillan Children’s Books to publish our British Sign Language (BSL) translation of 'Gruffalo Granny', helping ensure BSL users have equal access to the latest adventure from the much loved Gruffalo. Signed stories are a great way for children and families who use BSL to share the joy of storytelling. They're also a powerful tool to support language development and literacy in the early years. You can watch the signed story on our website: https://lnkd.in/e4Ed9A2x #GruffaloGranny Pan Macmillan

Our September newsletter is now live. This month, we're sharing practical advice to help deaf children succeed in the classroom, details of a groundbreaking project exploring the future of British Sign Language and AI, and information about an upcoming Deaf Child Worldwide webinar on newborn hearing screening. Read the latest updates from across the National Deaf Children's Society below 👇

Have you signed up to our 100 mile challenge yet? Peppa and George challenge you to see how many muddy puddles you can jump in as part of our 100 mile challenge this October. They share their top tips for taking part, including celebrating every mile, getting the whole family involved, and jumping in as many muddy puddles as you can! Sign up today https://lnkd.in/ex8JAcZf