National Lottery funding awarded to the British Deaf Association for a 3-year Equality and Rights project for Deaf people in Derby and Derbyshire.
The British Deaf Association (BDA) has secured new funding for a new Equality and Rights project for Deaf people in Derby and Derbyshire. The funding has been awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. The aim of this project is to support Deaf communities in Derby and Derbyshire to increase awareness of their rights, to access local services and information in British Sign Language (BSL).
The BDA will be working closely with 6 partner organisations who provide information and advice services to the population of Derby and Derbyshire. The project, which will last for 3 years, will involve specialist Deaf equality training for the partner organisations, the creation of resources in BSL, detailed information sessions for members of the Deaf community in Derby and Derbyshire so they become more aware of their rights and the establishment of a BSL Helpline for the Deaf community to ask for information and advice.
Rebecca Mansell, Chief Executive of the British Deaf Association, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded this grant, which will enable us to deliver a series of information sessions to members of the Deaf community in Derby and Derbyshire. We recognised that more work needed to be done to raise awareness within the Deaf community of their rights in general and to increase the overall confidence of members of the Deaf community to access mainstream services.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the partners who have been involved in shaping and developing this project, as well as the various Deaf groups who have been involved, such as the Deaf Clubs and Deaf Forums who have helped shape the idea for this project over the last few years.
We would also like to thank The National Lottery Community Fund for making this vital project possible.”
Nicola Thurbon, Senior Head of Regional Funding (Midlands) for The National Lottery Community Fund, said:
“The British Deaf Association (BDA) provides vital support to the Deaf community, helping to empower Deaf people to overcome the challenges they face. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are proud to have awarded this funding to the organisation so they can expand their offering in Derby and the surrounding areas, helping the local Deaf community to thrive.”
Thank you, Rebecca, Nicola and National Lottery Community Fund.
We will share further updates and our project plan in due course.
