Registered Charity We provide a range of Communication and Information Services

1. Registered Charity We provide a range of Communication and Information Services to the Deaf Community in Norfolk Manage the Deaf Community Centre in Norwich

2. Deaf Community in Norfolk • 500 BSL users in Norfolk • We see on average 160 people per week at the Deaf centre in Norwich • The Deaf Centre in Kings Lynn sees about 40 people a week • We provide BSL Interpreters for approximate 25 Deaf people each week. • Our Open Door & Advocacy Service is working with on average 12 people each week (most who will have more than one issue)

3. What we do and how we do it! Our aim is to enable our Deaf people to become as independent as possible. Prevent any of their conditions or situations becoming worse Improve their conditions and situations

4. What we do and how we do it! Increased knowledge is important Only achieve knowledge and understanding if it is accessible to you It’s critical that what we do is accessible to our Deaf Community – to do that we must know and understand them well We provide a range of activities that will increase knowledge and understanding in a safe secure environment

5. What we do at the Deaf Community Centre • Open Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm • Open Door drop in face to face – every Tuesday & Thursday • Different groups and activities every day • Café open every day • We always ask the Deaf Community what they want – then we link this with information giving

6. We ask our Deaf Community what they want

7. What we do and how we do it!Learning and social opportunities Talks from the Police about personal and home safety. Workshop on switching your energy provider Making Bird boxes – it needs to be fun!

8. Outcomes We now have a regular “drop in” from our community police – our Deaf Community feel safer and more confident talking to the police – we have been able to identify and report crime We are a hate crime reporting centre Our Community are more aware how to save money on their energy bills and we can assist them to do this They have learnt more language and created something themselves – confidence /self esteem

9. Healthy Living Project • We run a “Healthy Living Project” within that we provide • Regular talks on different health issues – we bring in a speaker but we then follow this up with our own group discussions. • Regular exercise • Healthy Diet Club • Cookery courses and demonstrations

10. Healthy living Cookery course Chair exercise Healthy walks Line dancing

11. Outcomes • Our Deaf community understand health better and can make informed decisions about their health. • We identify problems and issues regarding our communities health – we can then refer them for the right support • We identify gaps in understanding and then provide more activities to support this . A good example is our Diabetics Group

12. We have provided educational workshops English course Computer course Deaf History group

13. Outcomes • Identifies things such as; • Mental health problems and changes – refer on • Financial problems – benefits etc • Housing issues • Employment issues • Often linking to the past that they remember, such as schooling, can create interest in new things and so new knowledge, understanding and vocabulary

14. Working in Partnership • We work very closely with Adult Services Sensory Support. • We refer clients direct – this enables us to get support quickly and in the right manner • We jointly identify needs and work to provide support for those needs • We work in partnership with other organisations such as the local council and housing associations

15. Example – our knitting group Local PAWS cat rescue centre Local neonatal unit

16. Thank youAny questions? sue@deafconnexions.org.uk www.deafconnexions.org.uk