British Deaf Association
  • About us
        • About the BDA

          Deaf-led. Community focused.

          Learn more about who we are, what we stand for and how the British Deaf Association is led.

        • Who we are

          Learn about our purpose, values and the direction that guides the BDA.

        • Who we are
          • What we stand for
          • BDA Manifesto
          • Our Work
          • Strategic Vision
        • Leadership & governance

          Meet the people who lead the BDA and see how our organisation is governed and accountable.

        • Leadership & governance
          • Board
          • Management Team
          • Annual Reviews
        • History & community

          Explore the BDA's history and our work with Deaf young people.

        • History & community
          • History
          • BDA Youth
  • What we do
        • What we do

          Our work across the UK

          We campaign for equality, champion BSL and deliver projects and services that support Deaf people and communities across the UK.

        • Campaigns, policy and evidence

          We campaign for change and use evidence to improve the rights of Deaf people.

          • Our campaigns
          • Research and consultations
        • Support, projects and programmes

          Find support and explore BDA work taking place across the UK.

          • Advocacy
          • Projects and programmes
        • Information and resources

          Browse trusted BSL information, guidance and resources on topics that matter to Deaf people.

          • BSL and Deaf culture
          • Health and wellbeing
          • History and heritage
        • Celebrating BSL and Deaf culture

          Explore annual initiatives and celebrations that bring our community together.

          • Sign Language Week
          • National BSL Day
          • International Week of Deaf People
          • BSL Poet Laureate
  • News & events
        • Latest news

          Take the Leap for BDA Youth: Skydive Fundraiser 2026 Members of the BDA Youth Committee, BDA staff and supporters are taking to the skies to raise funds… 31 July 2026
          BDA responds to PM’s social care announcement The BDA welcomes the focus on social care and hopes the upcoming Big Conversation on Care will meaningfully… 30 July 2026
          Join our Deafblind Advisory Group The British Deaf Association (BDA) is looking for Deafblind people from across the United Kingdom to help shape… 25 June 2026

          All news →

        • Explore

          More news, organisations and places to discover.

          • British Deaf News
          • World Federation of the Deaf
          • European Union of the Deaf
          • SHARE: The Deaf Visual Archive
          • Sign Language Week
  • Get involved
        • Support us

          Help make a difference

          Support the BDA through donations, fundraising and other ways to give.

          Make a difference Make a donation and help support the BDA’s work with Deaf people and communities across the UK. Fundraise for the BDA Take on a challenge or organise your own fundraiser to help raise money for the BDA.
        • More ways to support
          • In-Memoriam Donations
          • Gifts in Wills
          • How we fundraise
        • Join us

          Work with us or become part of the BDA community.

          Current Job Opportunities See current vacancies and opportunities to work with the BDA. → Become a Member Join the BDA and be part of our community. →

          Stay connected

          Keep up with BDA news, campaigns and opportunities.

          Newsletter Sign up for BDA news, campaigns and important updates. →
  • Training & Consultancy
  • Contact
        • Get in touch

          How can we help?

          For general enquiries, use our online contact form and we’ll help make sure your message reaches the right BDA team.

          Contact us Send us a message using our online form. →
        • Follow us
          • X
          • Facebook
          • Facebook – British Deaf News
          • Instagram
          • LinkedIn
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        • Our offices

          Find your local BDA team

          Find contact details for BDA offices and teams across the UK.

          Head Office London → England Derby → Northern Ireland Belfast → Scotland Glasgow → Wales Cardiff → Deaf Museum Manchester →
  • Membership
  • Safeguarding
  • Donate
    • About us
          • About the BDA

            Deaf-led. Community focused.

            Learn more about who we are, what we stand for and how the British Deaf Association is led.

          • Who we are

            Learn about our purpose, values and the direction that guides the BDA.

          • Who we are
            • What we stand for
            • BDA Manifesto
            • Our Work
            • Strategic Vision
          • Leadership & governance

            Meet the people who lead the BDA and see how our organisation is governed and accountable.

          • Leadership & governance
            • Board
            • Management Team
            • Annual Reviews
          • History & community

            Explore the BDA's history and our work with Deaf young people.

          • History & community
            • History
            • BDA Youth
    • What we do
          • What we do

            Our work across the UK

            We campaign for equality, champion BSL and deliver projects and services that support Deaf people and communities across the UK.

          • Campaigns, policy and evidence

            We campaign for change and use evidence to improve the rights of Deaf people.

            • Our campaigns
            • Research and consultations
          • Support, projects and programmes

            Find support and explore BDA work taking place across the UK.

            • Advocacy
            • Projects and programmes
          • Information and resources

            Browse trusted BSL information, guidance and resources on topics that matter to Deaf people.

            • BSL and Deaf culture
            • Health and wellbeing
            • History and heritage
          • Celebrating BSL and Deaf culture

            Explore annual initiatives and celebrations that bring our community together.

            • Sign Language Week
            • National BSL Day
            • International Week of Deaf People
            • BSL Poet Laureate
    • News & events
          • Latest news

            Take the Leap for BDA Youth: Skydive Fundraiser 2026 Members of the BDA Youth Committee, BDA staff and supporters are taking to the skies to raise funds… 31 July 2026
            BDA responds to PM’s social care announcement The BDA welcomes the focus on social care and hopes the upcoming Big Conversation on Care will meaningfully… 30 July 2026
            Join our Deafblind Advisory Group The British Deaf Association (BDA) is looking for Deafblind people from across the United Kingdom to help shape… 25 June 2026

            All news →

          • Explore

            More news, organisations and places to discover.

            • British Deaf News
            • World Federation of the Deaf
            • European Union of the Deaf
            • SHARE: The Deaf Visual Archive
            • Sign Language Week
    • Get involved
          • Support us

            Help make a difference

            Support the BDA through donations, fundraising and other ways to give.

            Make a difference Make a donation and help support the BDA’s work with Deaf people and communities across the UK. Fundraise for the BDA Take on a challenge or organise your own fundraiser to help raise money for the BDA.
          • More ways to support
            • In-Memoriam Donations
            • Gifts in Wills
            • How we fundraise
          • Join us

            Work with us or become part of the BDA community.

            Current Job Opportunities See current vacancies and opportunities to work with the BDA. → Become a Member Join the BDA and be part of our community. →

            Stay connected

            Keep up with BDA news, campaigns and opportunities.

            Newsletter Sign up for BDA news, campaigns and important updates. →
    • Training & Consultancy
    • Contact
          • Get in touch

            How can we help?

            For general enquiries, use our online contact form and we’ll help make sure your message reaches the right BDA team.

            Contact us Send us a message using our online form. →
          • Follow us
            • X
            • Facebook
            • Facebook – British Deaf News
            • Instagram
            • LinkedIn
            • YouTube
          • Our offices

            Find your local BDA team

            Find contact details for BDA offices and teams across the UK.

            Head Office London → England Derby → Northern Ireland Belfast → Scotland Glasgow → Wales Cardiff → Deaf Museum Manchester →
    • Membership
    • Safeguarding
    • Donate

Legal

Lib Dems call on Gov to take “immediate steps”

David Buxton at Lib Dem Autumn Conference

The Liberal Democrats have called upon the UK Government to urgently review its policies in regards to persons with disabilities and for them to take immediate steps to remedy failures highlighted by the United Nations Committee in August.

19th September 2017

UN committee paves the way for a BSL Act

United Nations Room

In a landmark moment for deaf people in the UK, the UK government has been told by a leading UN committee that it must “ensure that legislation provides for the right to educated high-quality sign language interpretation…in all spheres of life”, highlighting a key loophole in current UK law.

31st August 2017

UNCRPD – UK Gov Sessions to be Live Streamed

Featured-Image2

Over Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th, the committee will review the UK Government and create a list of recommendations based on the evidence provided by the British Deaf Association and other key UK Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations.

22nd August 2017

Press Release: BDA challenge UK Gov at UN

Featured-Image

The British Deaf Association, with other Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) from across the United Kingdom, will today attend the United Nations in Geneva to highlight the government’s ongoing human rights violations and evasive behaviour towards a major United Nations committee.

21st August 2017

BBC to provide Election debates in BSL

GE

The BBC will be having two General Election “Question Time“ programmes with all the political party leaders, and the repeat programmes of QT will be interpreted into BSL.

30th May 2017

Conservatives refuse BSL translation of Manifesto

cons

The Conservative party have refused to provide BSL interpretation of their Manifesto despite repeated requests

29th May 2017
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British Deaf Association

British Deaf Association

The national voice of Deaf people in the UK. We campaign for equality, celebrate British Sign Language and support Deaf communities to thrive.

Contact us

We welcome your feedback and comments. Please feel free to get in touch.

  • bda@bda.org.uk
  • bda.org.uk

Training & Consultancy

For training and consultancy enquiries, please contact:

  • trainingandconsultancy@bda.org.uk

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© British Deaf Association 2026

Registered charity: England and Wales (1031687) and Scotland (SC042409)

Company No. 2881497 (England and Wales)

BDA Head Office

We welcome your feedback and comments. Please feel free to get in touch:

Email: bda@bda.org.uk

USEFUL LINKS

Accessibility
Privacy Policy
Complaints Procedure
My Donations
Safeguarding

Registered charity - England and Wales (1031687) and Scotland (SC042409) Company No: 2881497 (England and Wales) - Copyright British Deaf Association 2026

Important data protection update

Beacon CRM has informed the BDA about a cyber-security incident that may have involved personal information held in our account. Read our update, FAQs and BSL information.

Read the update → (opens in a new tab)