NDS & BID Merger Information

FAQ

Why is this merger happening?

Like many charities, Nottinghamshire Deaf Society have faced increasing challenges, this merger is about building a stronger, more sustainable future. By bringing our strengths together, we can share skills, resources and expertise, helping us support more people and protect local services for years to come.

Will my service continue?

The support you rely on, whether you access Nottinghamshire Deaf Society services or support through BID Services, will continue. This merger is not about cutting services. Local support, staff and activities will remain in place, with no interruption to services.

Will anything change about the support I receive?

No, you will continue to receive the same support and access services in the same way.

Will the staff and volunteers I know still be there?

Yes, the staff and volunteers you know, and trust will continue to support you. Our staff and volunteers remain central to the support we provide. This merger will create new opportunities for NDS and BID Services’ staff and volunteers to share knowledge and expertise.

Will the charity’s identity and values change?

No. We are committed to retaining Nottinghamshire Deaf Society’s brand and local identity, recognising its history and importance within the Deaf community. The things that matter most, our values, community focus and commitment to the people we support, will stay the same.

Will specialist services and expertise be lost?

No. Protecting and strengthening specialist support is a key reason for the merger. Together, Nottinghamshire Deaf Society and BID Services will bring more experience, knowledge and resources to support people who are deaf, hard of hearing, sight impaired or deafblind.

Will services get better or worse?

Our goal is to make services stronger. By combining resources and expertise, we will be better placed to invest in frontline services, share knowledge and make sure support remains strong and sustainable in the future.

Will I still be able to shape my local service?

Yes. Both NDS and BID Services have well established routes for those who use our services and our staff/volunteers to feed into the organisation and shape local services. We will look to build on and continue these.

Will contact details, locations or how I access support change?

For now, you can continue to contact both Nottinghamshire Deaf Society and BID Services and access support in the same way as you do today. If anything changes in the future, we will let people know well in advance.

In terms of the NDS base, NDS currently has a 10-year lease with Portland College which has another 8 years to run. This lease will be assigned to BID Services, therefore, it is not anticipated that anything will change.

Will the organisation remain committed to our local community?

Local support and community connections remain very important to us. The merger strengthens Nottinghamshire Deaf Society’s ability to meet local needs in Nottinghamshire while benefiting from the resources and expertise of a larger organisation such as BID Services.

How will this benefit people who use services?

The merger brings together the strengths of both charities. It will help us share expertise, reach more people and build stronger, more sustainable services, while keeping local support at the heart of what we do.

Why is BID Services taking over Nottinghamshire Deaf Society?

This merger is not about taking over. Nottinghamshire Deaf Society trustees recognised the challenges that the charity was facing and that by working with another charity NDS would be in a stronger position to sustain local services and ensure the people of Nottinghamshire have support for many years to come. NDS approached BID Services to support with this due to our shared history, values and culture. The NDS brand, identity and local presence will remain.

Who will the CEO be?

The BID Services CEO will become the CEO for NDS. The current leadership team will continue in their current roles and the management structure will continue.

What will happen to NDS Trustees and members?

We expect NDS to continue for some time after the merger to ensure that the legal terms on which the merger took place are properly observed. The details of this are still to be finalised and so what happens to NDS, its members and trustees will be explained as soon as possible.

What will happen to NDS after the 2nd November?

We expect NDS to continue for some time after the merger to ensure that the legal terms on which the merger took place are properly observed.