CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Community Engagement Officer - Cymru/Wales (2 posts available)
Job Title: Community Engagement Officer – Cymru/Wales (2 posts available)
Salary: £10,000 (full time equivalent £25,000)
Reports to: BDA Cymru Manager
Manages: None but potential to supervise volunteers
Location:
- Post 1: Home based in North Wales
- Post 2: Home based anywhere in Wales
Contract: Each post - 14 hours per week for duration of project (3 years). A willingness to work some evenings and weekends is required.
Holidays: Pro rata of 25 days a year plus Bank Holidays
Pension: BDA operates an auto-enrolled, contributory pension scheme in accordance with its auto-enrolment obligations
Purpose of the ‘Deaf Cymru Access’ Project
British Deaf Association Cymru (BDA Cymru) will enable and empower Deaf people in Wales to establish and grow support networks. The project will address obstacles to accessing essential services and facilities, collaborate with Deaf individuals in Wales who are denied access to opportunities, as well as working with individuals and groups to encourage the transition to inclusive practices. They will establish Regional Member Forums, run a helpline, provide resources and templates and collect research information on key issues of concern for Deaf people in Wales.
About the Role
These are two exciting roles for Community Engagement Officers to join the BDA as we expand our work remit within Wales. The postholders will work with the project team to ensure the aims of the DEAF CYMRU ACCESS project are achieved along with an excellent quality of delivery. This project was funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.
Main Tasks
- Engaging members of the Deaf community in Wales to build positive and sustainable relationships between them and BDA, local public services and other stakeholders.
- Assist in the development of project activities, resources and materials, and then deliver or disseminate these as directed by the Manager/project plan.
- Support the delivery of our Cymru BSL Helpline (remotely and in person).
- Record data for monitoring, evaluation and learning purposes.
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities
- Engagement: Support Deaf people to get involved in Deaf Cymru Access and to use our Cymru BSL Helpline.
- Co-ordinate: Activities such as Deaf groups, Helpline sessions.
- Collaboration: Share resources, information and activities with public sector agencies and other stakeholders in partnership with members of the Wales Deaf Community.
- Training: Deliver or support workshops that upskill the Deaf community to give them the optimum opportunity for involvement and contribution to the project.
- Information gathering: Work closely with the BDA’s Research and Policy team when necessary to ensure full information is available.
- Records and reporting: Keep records of activities to help your Manager track the progress of the project, contributions to the activities outlined in the funding conditions, and ensure monitoring and evaluation information is collected and outcomes can be evidenced.
- Representing the BDA: Engage members of the Deaf community to work with you in presenting the BDA within the scope of the project.
- Ownership and accountability: Share responsibility for delivering the objectives of the project/grant funding and in the wider context of the work of the BDA and undertake any other duties of a related nature that might reasonably be required and allocated by the manager or the BDA.
Person Specification
Skills / Experience
- The successful candidate must be a fluent BSL signer with direct experience of the Deaf community in Wales/UK.
- We are interested in transferable skills from lived experience, family life, volunteering or work experience.
Key Requirements
- Experience of positively and productively engaging Deaf BSL signers, public sector agencies and other stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to deliver information, advice and guidance to Deaf BSL signers via our new Helplines (remotely by video and in person).
- Ability to work with public sector agencies to promote BSL access toolkits and information to enhance their accessibility to Deaf BSL signers.
- Ability to bring together Deaf BSL signers in groups to deliver workshops and information sessions. Also, to identify and work with Deaf leaders to support our work.
- Experience and digital skills in using Microsoft 365, client databases, as well as digital platforms such as Zoom, MS Teams, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.
- Knowledge and understanding of, and commitment to, equal opportunities, equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
- Knowledge and understanding of GDPR and maintaining confidentiality.
- Recording project data and evaluation as directed by the Manager. Also, to report any learning or feedback where applicable.
Desirable Requirements
- Good understanding of the barriers faced by Deaf BSL signers of all backgrounds.
- Understanding of the public sector in Wales, especially health and social care.
- Experience in researching local information to inform the Information packs for Deaf BSL signers.
- Experience in recruiting and working with volunteers.
- Qualifications in Advice & Guidance and/or Advocacy would be an advantage.
- Ability to create BSL videos and other BSL accessible resources.
- Good presentation skills.
Other Requirements
- A commitment to contributing to a fair, compassionate and diverse working environment.
- A passion for the BDA’s values and work.
Key Dates
For an informal chat about this position or if you have any questions, please email martin.griffiths@bda.org.uk
To apply, please submit your application form, monitoring form and a supporting statement (maximum of two sides of A4 or a BSL video of up to 5 minutes via WeTransfer) covering the following three points:
- Tell us what expertise, skills and knowledge you would bring to this role. If you do not have professional experience, tell us what volunteering, work experience, or life experience you would bring to role and how that will help you work successfully with us.
- What are your most impactful BSL related achievements to date?
- How do you feel your approach to work fits with our values?
Deadline for applications: 28th April 2025
Interviews: TBC (held in person at the BDA Cardiff office or via Zoom).
The application form and monitoring form can be downloaded from bda.org.uk/current-opportunities
Please email your application to: recruitment@bda.org.uk with the subject ‘Community Engagement Officer Cymru’. Applications via recruitment agencies will be rejected.
Thank you for your interest.
Campaign Ambassador - BSL in our Hands Campaign
Role Description
The BDA wants you to bring your personal experience, as a parent of a deaf child, to help us make a lasting impact for deaf children in the Early Years.
Your support is vital to our campaigning and #TakingBSLForward.
Our Vision
In the wake of the BSL Act 2022, the BDA launched a 10-year strategy, “Taking BSL Forward”. Our goal is that every deaf baby, child and adult in the UK will have a good quality of life where there are no communication barriers and British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) is provided a space to flourish.
One of the core areas of focus in our strategy is Early Years. We believe it is a vital time of a child’s development and by adding value here, the issues affecting Deaf people later in life can be avoided.
BSL in Our Hands Campaign
We launched the ‘BSL In Our Hands’ campaign in March 2024, calling for the Government to fund free BSL/ISL lessons in the home for the parents and families with deaf babies and children.
There are over 50,000 deaf children across the UK, over 90% of whom are born to hearing parents with no knowledge of sign language. Babies start to develop language from birth. Early language acquisition is essential for a child’s development and wellbeing, yet access to sign language is limited, and the provision is patchy and expensive.
We believe that offering access to both sign - and spoken language, reduces the risk of deaf children becoming language deprived. We believe that with the right access to language, there's no limit to what a deaf child can achieve.
Meet Lara (not her real name)
Lara is Deaf and grew up deprived of a language as her family are all hearing and can’t sign. She couldn’t follow the conversation around the dinner table and struggled with everyday interactions. The Audiologist advised her parents not to introduce and use sign language. Their education policy stated that use of sign language would affect the development of speech. The recommendation was that they should raise her as they would were she a hearing child.
Her parents learned of the BDA’s Deaf Roots & Pride project, from a Teacher of the Deaf, and took Lara there. To their amazement, Lara immediately connected with all the deaf children and picked up quickly on BSL. She was so happy in their company and her parents realised the Audiologist’s advice didn’t meet their daughter’s needs.
Your Role as a BDA Campaign Ambassador
We need your support to help children like Lara. This is a vital role to ensure the campaign’s success.
You will:
- Be the voice representing many parents of deaf children.
- Share your story as a parent of a deaf child/ren.
- Highlight the importance of free BSL/ISL lessons for families/carers soon after identification.
- Campaign for our linguistic rights and seek to influence the Government’s policies.
- Network with key professionals and politicians.
- Support the BDA by carrying out interviews, providing quotes, and being a face of the campaign.
- Work closely with the BDA Special Ambassador.
Your Skills and Experience
Ideally you will have:
- Passion and motivation to create change.
- Confidence in talking to a wide range of professionals, groups and individuals.
- Knowledge and understanding about Early Years, issues affecting Deaf people, communities and BSL.
What Can BDA Do for You?
- Provide a training session on campaigning skills.
- Provide opportunities for you to meet other parents.
- Provide expenses for all costs incurred.
- Support you throughout your campaign ambassador journey.
Consent must be obtained for use of images or videos of you and your child. Your child’s identity can be anonymous if requested.
We hope you will join us as a BDA Campaign Ambassador to take BSL/ISL forward!
If you are interested, or want more information, please get in touch with Annie Harris, Campaigns Manager annie.harris@bda.org.uk.
For further information about BSL in Our Hands, please visit their website www.bda.org.uk/bsl-in-our-hands
We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to the BDA’s family.