UK Council on Deafness | February 2005 Bulletin

The next meeting of the APPGD is at 4.00pm on Wednesday 16 July 2008. The meeting will be an opportunity to hear oral evidence from the Hearing Aid Council, the Health Professions Council and consumer representatives on the planned abolition of the Hearing Aid Council and the transfer of the regulation of private hearing aid dispensers to the Health Professions Council. Speakers at the meeting include Sandra Verkuyten, Chief Executive of the Hearing Aid Council, Marc Seale, Chief Executive of the Health Professions Council and Angela King, Senior Audiology Specialist at RNID. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting please contact Jonathan Isaac, j.isaac@deafcouncil.org.uk , for further details.

Annual Deafness Conference November 2008 - Call for Papers

Abstracts of papers for consideration by the conference committee are requested on any subject relating to Deafness. Abstracts must be submitted by email attachment in text (.doc, .txt, .rtf) to j.isaac@deafcouncil.org.uk by 31 August 2008. The conference committee will select the most appropriate presentations and a decision will be made by 10 September. Full papers will be required by 31 October to give time for the communication support team to prepare for your presentation. Full details of the date and venue will be available shortly. There will also be an exhibition attached to the conference, organisations interested in booking exhibition space please contact Clare Long, the conference organiser, at c.long@deafcouncil.org.uk

Chair - British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust

The British Sign Language Trust (BSLBT) is being established by major UK broadcasters and channels in response to recently introduced OFCOM changes to do with programming for Deaf viewers. The development of the trust and the establishment of its objectives is been supported by members of the Deaf Community. The BSLBT will be responsible for securing the supply and distribution of quality programmes made in British Sign Language for Broadcast. The Trust is seeking a part-time Chair, remunerated accordingly, with experience, knowledge and/or interest in Deaf culture, it’s history and an understanding of the needs and aspirations of the Deaf Community. A similar knowledge and interest in broadcasting would be an advantage. Deadline for applications: 12 July 2008. For a full job description and further information on the BSLT please contact Carmel Giblin on 0207 585 4885 or email carmel.giblin@bskyb.com

The SASLI Conference 6 October 2007 in Edinburgh included some thought-provoking presentations on ‘Deaf Interpreters’. Following that Conference CACDP, the IRP, ASLI, the Deaf Interpreters’ Network and a number of other organisations have come together with their primary aim to look into the possibility of developing better professional recognition for interpreters who do not work between standard BSL and English. A copy of the summary document written in April, that shows the progress of the group to that point, is available by clicking this link: http://www.cacdp.org.uk/int_consult/ The development work has been divided into three areas; sign-language to sign-language interpretation, translation from scrolling text and ‘other’. The group would like your input into the development of their work in these three areas, specifically:

Area One (sign-language to sign language): The group would like practitioners of BSL and ISL interpreting in the UK and Ireland to contact them as soon as possible to express their views on these developments or to register their interest in becoming a member of a register of BSL and ISL interpreters.

Area Three (other): The attached paper asks that those who have completed work in these areas submit their findings, and any notes of their discussions on these topics. In this way we will build on that work rather than repeat it. The work of the group has moved on since April and we have gone some way to defining many roles, such as Deaf advocacy and Deaf intermediary work. Although we would welcome input on these areas, we are particularly interested to hear from interpreters working from BSL to Visual Frame or BSL to Hands-on Signing, or managers of such staff. We would particularly like to know what is involved in these roles and what skills you feel are needed to undertake them.

Cued Speech Association’s 8th Summer School will be held at the Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education in Devon from 4th – 8th August. Foundation, Improvers and Advanced courses are offered plus a play-based course for children. As in other years French deaf youngsters who have been brought with the French version of Cued speech will be joining us to improve their English skills. Day time lessons are followed by social activities. A crèche is also available with fully trained childcare workers with Cued Speech and BSL skills. The aim is to provide a relaxed teaching environment and for those needing accommodation there are a limited number of low cost, self catering, student- style rooms available on site. The Summer School is near the attractive riverside area and close to the city centre. For all course bookings please call Kim on: 01803 832 784. Or email kim@cuedspeech.co,uk

Thursday 25th September. Cost: £25 (inc lunch and refreshments). Mary Hare Schools exist to help deaf children to fulfil their potential and believe that the use of spoken English and the best in technology are crucial to this process. We provide a language-rich environment to help develop listening, speaking and language skills. Teaching staff are specialist teachers of the deaf, who are also specialist subject teachers. Teaching groups are small with great scope for individual help and support. Booking form from: http://www.maryhare.org.uk/?id=training_opendays

August 8th & 9th – Angel Hotel, Cardiff. Friday 8th August: 8pm – late. Entrance FREE. Social Evening & Quiz night. •An opportunity to catch up with old / new friends. Meet the Board of Trustees. Enter the quiz and who knows what great prizes you could be taking home! Enjoy a fantastic relaxed and fun evening with the BDA.

Saturday 9th August: 10.30am - 4pm. Conference "Back to the Future". 10.30am - 4pm Conference. Speakers include Jeff Brattan-Wilson (Wales Trustee, BDA Board) and Jane Hutt (Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Education, Children & Young People). Workshops will take place in the afternoon. Price: £5 only (BDA Member) / £10 only (Non-member).

Saturday Evening 7pm - late. Dinner Dance and Entertainment: 3 course meal, Free prize draw, Raffle, Speeches, Entertainment. Price: £30 (BDA Member) / £35 (Non-member). Cost for 2 day Conference: £30 (BDA member) / £35 (Non member). Book your place NOW! by contacting: sarahm@bda.org.uk or see the BDA website for full details: www.bda.org.uk

On September 17, 2008, the Meningitis Trust Aftercare & After-effects Conference will take place at the British Library in London. The Trust invites all health professionals and those who are involved in anyway with helping people affected by the disease, to come along. The conference will look at the effects of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia, and highlight the importance of specialist support in helping those affected rebuild their lives. There will be a number of contributors on the day, including Prof. Keith Cartwright, Medical Director of the Meningitis Trust (Conference Chair), as well as individuals talking about their personal experiences of the disease. The conference attendance fee is £75 and includes lunch, all refreshments and conference materials. For more information or to register, either download a copy of the booking form opposite or contact Louise Little on 01453 768000 or email louisel@meningitis-trust.org

LawWorks (a project of national charity, the Solicitors Pro Bono Group, operating under the LawWorks name) was set up 6 years ago to match small not-for-profit organisations, including social enterprises, in need of free legal advice with a network of volunteer lawyers. To date we have helped around 1000 organisations receive free advice in all areas of law including company law, employment, property law and intellectual property. Over 80 law firms and companies participate in this national scheme and we regularly evaluate the project to make sure we provide an efficient service. You can find further details of the scheme and the charity at www.lawworks.org.uk.

From April 2007, the Department of Health is holding a Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF) of £100 million over a four year period (£63 million capital and £27 million revenue from 2008/09 to 2010/11). In 2007/08, £1.7 million revenue and £8.9 million capital money was available to new and existing social enterprises*, delivering health and social care services, who applied successfully for this funding. In 2008/09, we are making a further £11 million capital and £6 million revenue funding available to new and existing social enterprises. The closing date for this round is 31July 2008, for further information and to apply for the fund please access the application form through the link below. (* The government defines a social enterprise as ‘a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners). http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Organisationpolicy/Commissioning/Socialenterprise/index.htm Or for further information contact: Social Enterprise Investment Fund, 11th Floor, New Kings Beam House, 22 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9BW. E: socialenterprisefund@dh.gsi.gov.uk

July 2008 Bulletin