Community Services
Deaf Connections Project
Nottinghamshire Deaf Society is very excited to announce the launch of an exciting new project called ‘Deaf Connections’. This project has been funded by Nottinghamshire County Council and aims to connect Deaf people to enable them to make a difference to their lives.
The aims of the project are:
- To develop better social connection opportunities in Nottinghamshire areas where Deaf/hard of hearing/Deafblind people live
- Improve access to organisations so Deaf/hard of hearing/Deafblind people and their families have equal access and opportunities
- Provide opportunities for sharing and development of new skills e.g., living skills, technical skills, employment skills, skills to support good mental health and wellbeing and creative skills
- Create better information networks e.g., news and events that are happening locally and nationally, for example Facebook, Instagram, etc
- Support with signposting and connecting with other organisations/charities to share information
We would love to encourage Deaf/hard of hearing/Deafblind people to share their own visions of setting up their own community groups/activities and the purpose of this is to improve access within Nottinghamshire.
We plan to set up coffee sessions (either morning or afternoon) across the Nottinghamshire boundaries of:
- Bassetlaw
- Gelding
- Broxtrowe
- Gelding
- Newark and Sherwood
- Mansfield
- Rushcliffe
- Ashfield
The aim of the coffee mornings is to find out what you love doing in the community, what ideas you have and what you would like to achieve for your community. As part of the coffee sessions, I will have a chat with you and support and guide you to set up a group or activity which will be led by the group themselves either on short term or long-term.
I will also be contacting organisations within Nottinghamshire with the aim of improving accessibility, removing barriers that currently exist and in turn making them more inclusive for Deaf people, hard of hearing and Deafblind
We would like to see better opportunities and access for the Deaf community across Nottinghamshire.
If you wish to have a chat and have ideas about Deaf Connection project you can get in touch with me directly –by SMS, Whatsapp or email
Edele Garton, Community Development Officer
SMS/Whatsapp: 07933 852308
Email address: edele.garton@nottsdeaf.org.uk
Deaf Community Link Work
The aim of this service is to reduce incidences of loneliness and social isolation within the Deaf Community. In turn we hope to reduce the impact on statutory services by identifying needs early and promoting partnership working between voluntary and public agencies.
Our Community Link Worker provides a preventative support service for older or vulnerable Deaf People who live in Nottinghamshire. They work with deaf people, their families, staff and other agencies to link, signpost or refer people to appropriate services. They can support people to contact services or activities themselves.
They also ensure that relevant news and information is shared with the deaf community in the appropriate way and oversee the Monday social group and the volunteer befriending service.
For more information on how they could support or refer into the service please contact jacqueline.swinbourne@nottsdeaf.org.uk
Advocacy Worker
The role of the Advocacy Worker is to ensure support for Deaf, hard of hearing and deafened people across both Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire.
The Advocacy Worker aims to encourage and boost confidence in Deaf people, ensuring access to key information without facing barriers. They will also challenge and fight for change – empowering and supporting Deaf people and giving them confidence to make independent, informed choices that match their needs.
Nottinghamshire Deaf Society are working in partnership with POhWER ( www.pohwer.net ) to deliver advocacy and ensure that our advocates and advisers can support you to have informed choice and voice by working with you to support you to understand and access the rights and entitlements given to all of us in the Human Rights Act 1998. We are working with POhWER to provide advocacy in the preferred language of the deaf person, whether that’s British Sign Language or spoken English and by someone who has personal experience of deafness.
You can find out more about Deaf Advocacy at this link https://www.pohwer.net/deaf-advocacy
You can also find out more about the specific Advocacy we provide in this partnership by looking at the local area pages below:
https://www.pohwer.net/nottingham-city | https://www.pohwer.net/nottinghamshire
For more information about our Advocacy Service please contact Frankie Lanfranchi, our Advocacy Worker – francesca.lanfranchi@nottsdeaf.org.uk
Monday Social Group
The Monday Social Group meets every Monday at Costa Coffee, 2 Goldsmith St, Nottingham NG1 5JS from 10am to 12pm and is open to people with all types of hearing loss to come together to socialise, gain information, play games or simply have lunch and a chat.
Our Deaf Community Link Worker is available when the group is open, to assist members with any enquiries and can make referrals to other agencies if needed. She also sets up talks from outside agencies such as Age UK, City Transport, Macmillan, Pain Management.
Deaf Men Wellbeing Group
More information about the Deaf Men’s Wellbeing Group will follow shortly.
Nottingham Deaf Children
A playgroup for Deaf families Tuesday 10am to 11.30am.
There is no charge for the group, but donations are appreciated and will be used for snacks and new toys.
Tea & Coffee, Snacks & Juice are provided
For more information contact Emma 07583684619
50+ Group
The Wednesday 50+ group is a social group open to Deaf BSL users aged 50 or over. They meet every Wednesday from 10.30am – 3.30pm. The group is self run and has its own committee which arranges activities, day trips and a holiday each year. See their Facebook page for more details.
Our Deaf Community Link Worker is also available when the group meets, as is the welfare rights service.