Your support through a gift in your Will allows the BDA to ensure a world in which the language, culture, community, diversity and heritage of Deaf people in the UK is respected and fully protected, ensuring that we can participate and contribute as equal and valued citizens in the wider society. For example, we have been able to campaign for a BSL Act which came into force on 28th April 2022 as a result of people leaving a gift in their Will to the BDA. In addition, we have also been able to provide a range of support services to Deaf children and adults across the UK as a result of people’s legacies.
Whether you already have a Will or not, making a gift in your Will to the British Deaf Association, no matter how large or small, is a straightforward and simple way to make a real difference for Deaf people. For more information, please contact the BDA at bda@bda.org.uk
We have partnered with Culver Law to launch the first-ever BSL accessible Will writing service during Remember a Charity Week
In celebration of Remember a Charity Week 2024, the British Deaf Association is excited to announce that, due to our encouragement and continued advocacy for accessible Will writing, Culver Law is now offering the first ever British Sign Language (BSL) accessible Will writing service to the Deaf community.
We are proud that our cause has been recognised and that this crucial service is now available, thanks to BDA Chief Executive Rebecca Mansell championing the need for this service through her role on Remember A Charity’s Council.
This innovative service allows Deaf individuals across the UK to discuss their Wills in BSL. Culver Law will provide expert Will writing services in BSL, ensuring that everyone in the Deaf community has access to professional support.
No charity, including the BDA, will receive commission from clients who use the free Will writing service. The subsidised Will writing scheme which covers the making of a simple Will (or a pair of simple mirror Wills) is funded by the BDA in the hope that clients will leave a gift to the BDA in their Will. This partnership also underscores the BDA’s ongoing commitment to making essential services accessible and building a lasting legacy for the Deaf community.
Culver Law’s commitment to accessibility is reflected in their comprehensive Deaf Awareness Training, and their website and meetings are fully accessible in BSL. Their lead solicitor, who is actively involved in the Deaf community and is currently working towards her Level 6 in BSL, exemplifies our shared dedication to meeting the needs of the Deaf community.
This new offering not only provides equitable support for the Deaf community but also presents a meaningful opportunity for individuals to consider leaving a legacy to the BDA to support our crucial advocacy and campaign work.
Reflecting on the launch, Rebecca Mansell CEO of the BDA and Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising said, “As a passionate fundraiser, I made it my mission to highlight the inaccessibility of Will writing for the deaf community and to ensure that our needs are recognised. Having Culver Law reach out to collaborate with us on this issue was a fulfilling step toward what I set out to achieve. I am thrilled to see my efforts come full circle, knowing that the deaf community will now have access to accessible Will writing services in BSL and the opportunity to leave a gift to any charity of their choice.”
Dr. Robert Adam, Chair of BDA Board of Trustees said, “In the #TakingBSLForward strategy, the BDA envisioned a world where British Sign Language is ingrained in every stage of life, from cradle to grave. Today, our partnership with Culver Law brings us one step closer to that vision. By offering accessible Will writing services in BSL, we are ensuring that Deaf individuals can make important life decisions in their own language. This initiative is more than just a service—it's a crucial part of our mission to empower the UK Deaf community and embed BSL into all aspects of daily life by 2032."
Culver Law shares, "Culver Law are excited to have partnered with BDA on this groundbreaking new initiative. It has always been our firm belief that law should be accessible to everyone, irrespective of their communication preferences and that the deaf community receive equal representation and understanding in the legal arena. By working with the BDA, we are taking a monumental step forward in fulfilling that vision."
Remember A Charity Week is an annual celebration of charitable gifts in Wills, where charities, legal partners and others come together to build understanding and demonstrate the impact of this key income stream for charities.
Lucinda Frostick, Director of Remember A Charity – a consortium of close to 200 charities (including the BDA) that rely on gifts on Wills says, “Remember A Charity Week is an opportunity for everyone to take a moment to consider leaving a gift to charity in their Will, while taking care of their family and friends. It is so important that Will-writing is widely accessible and we are delighted that the Deaf community will now be able to access the Will writing service in BSL so that they too be empowered and inspired by the opportunity of making a difference that will benefit good causes long into the future.
“This year's Remember A Charity Week runs from 9 to 15 September 2024. We hope everyone – including the Deaf community – will consider leaving a gift to charity in their Will alongside their loved ones.”
For more information about this service and to get started on creating your Will, please visit bda.org.uk/leaving-gift-will. Together, we are making history by breaking barriers and shaping a brighter future for the Deaf community.
Register your Interest
If you’re interested in learning more or would like to be among the first to access this service, please email us at wills@bda.org.uk.
We look forward to helping you secure your legacy with full support in BSL.
Consider Leaving a Legacy to the BDA
Across the UK, there are over 50,000 deaf children, with more than 90% born to hearing parents who have little or no knowledge of sign language. This creates a significant language barrier from the very beginning of deaf children’s lives. Early language acquisition is vital for a child's cognitive, emotional, and social development.
However, access to British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) is often limited, inconsistent, and prohibitively expensive. This lack of access can lead to severe, lifelong consequences, including language deprivation, which affects a child's overall well-being and potential.
- Early BSL/ISL Provision: We are campaigning for a free national programme of government-funded BSL/ISL courses for parents and carers, so that deaf children can communicate with their families from the outset and avoid language deprivation.
- Supporting Bilingual and Bimodal Learning: We support encouraging deaf children to learn BSL/ISL alongside English, which fosters a strong Deaf identity and facilitates effective communication with the hearing world.
- Influencing Policy and Challenging Misconceptions: We work to update outdated advice and ensure policies fully inform parents about the benefits of sign language.
How Legacies Can Help: Empowering deaf children and their families through our BSL in Our Hands campaign
By leaving a legacy to the BDA, you can make a lasting impact on the lives of deaf children and their families across the UK.
Your support will help us:
- Provide Early Access to BSL: Your legacy will enable us to advocate for government-funded, free access to BSL for families of newly identified deaf children, ensuring they have the tools they need to communicate and thrive from the start.
- Enhance Sign Language Education: Your gift will support the training of highly skilled sign language teachers, increasing the number of Deaf and native signers in educational roles. This ensures deaf children receive the best possible instruction in BSL.
- Influence Early Years Policies: With your help, we can advocate for the inclusion of sign language in Early Years planning, giving families informed choices and promoting bilingual and bimodal learning for deaf children.
- Empower the Deaf Community: Your support will mobilise the Deaf community to advocate for their rights, ensuring policymakers hear and respect Deaf voices.
- Fund Vital Research: Your gift will enable research that provides decision-makers with a true understanding of the needs and experiences of deaf children, driving informed, effective policies.
By leaving a legacy to the British Deaf Association (BDA), you'll support us in getting BSL into the hands of deaf children and their families/carers, those who need it most. You'll be helping us create a future where every deaf child in the UK can grow up with the language, identity, and support they need to flourish. We need BSL in their hands, now.