Love drawing? Click here to enter our mascot competition

May 10, 2016

Do you like drawing and designing? Do you have great ideas? We need your help. The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth turns 30 this year. To celebrate we want you to help us design our new
charity mascot. The mascot will be used across the charity but especially for sign2sing, our annual fundraising and awareness event.

Let your imagination run wild and have a go at designing a fantastic mascot. The winning design will win a super stationery pack and a special sign2sing visit to their school by the mascot.

You can be as creative as you like but…

Your mascot must have a face
Please think about a design that will be appealing to children of all ages
The character needs to be able to use sign language so it will need hands
The mascot can be human, animal or something else!
The mascot will be used in a variety of different format: costume, digital and in printed materials
You can design it on paper or electronically (pdf or jpeg formats only).

Send your entry to

(pdf or jpeg formats only) or

SignHealth Mascot Competition

Fundraising Team

5 Baring Road

Beaconsfield

HP9 2NB

Please put your name, school/college, school or college address and age on your entry or entries.If you would like to suggest a name for your mascot please include that too.

Closing date: 23rd May 2016

Competition Rules and Guidelines

Please read the full terms and conditions.

This competition is open to all primary and secondary UK schools/colleges.
Employees of SignHealth, their families, agents or anyone else professionally associated with the competition are exempt from taking part.
SignHealth may adapt and modify the winning design as required.
The winner accepts that all the intellectual property rights to use the design belong entirely to SignHealth, and that SignHealth will use the design in any context, format and without any time limitations, that meets the needs of the charity.
The winner will be announced on the sign2sing website and in SignHealth’s promotional materials. By entering the competition you are agreeing to take part in publicity.
The winner’s names and county can be obtained by sending an SAE to SignHealth, 5 Baring Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2NB.
The winner will be contacted within 28 days of the closing date of the competition.
The prize is non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives.
SignHealth is responsible for this competition: the adjudication of the competition and all other facilities connected with the provision and promotion of the prize.
Details of how to enter form part of the terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Promoter: SignHealth, Registered charity no. 1011056

GOOD LUCK!

Image credit: Dave Haygarth

Focus on accessibility for Deaf Awareness Week

May 4, 2016

The 2-8 May is Deaf Awareness Week. Promoted by the UK Council on Deafness, Deaf Awareness Week raises awareness that 1 in 6 people in the UK are deaf or have a hearing loss.

The theme this year is ‘Common Purpose’. All the members of the UK Council on Deafness, including SignHealth, are united in aiming to make a world where deaf people can fulfil their potential.

Part of the ‘common purpose’ is to make sure deaf people have the information they need. That’s why during Deaf Awareness Week, SignHealth will be sharing information on the Accessible Information Standard. The Standard is a set of rules, published by the NHS, which will make access to health care and information as easy for deaf people as it is for hearing people.

Over the week, we will be releasing a series of videos on our Facebook page in which deaf people and health professionals explain how the Accessible Information Standard will improve access to health care. We will also be sharing information on how the deaf community can ensure that health providers comply with the Standard, which becomes law on 31^st July.

In addition, we will also be featured on the NHS Employers website, explaining how the Standard will empower deaf people to take control of their health and wellbeing.

For more information on the Accessible information Standard, visit our Healthier Together page.

Meet DeafHope at Planet DeaFantastic

April 29, 2016

DeafHope is the UK’s only sign-language based service to help deaf women and children who suffer from domestic abuse. If you are being abused, the DeafHope team are here to help you. The service is from SignHealth and is led by Deaf women for Deaf women, currently providing support in London, Kent and Surrey.

Would you like to know more about DeafHope? Come along and meet with us at Planet DeaFantastic Expo on Saturday 30th April, 10am- 4pm at St Luke’s Community Centre, 90 Central Street, London, EC1V 8AJ. If you are unable to see us on the day, please visit the DeafHope page on our website.

SignHealth shares ideas with Bucks New Uni students

April 25, 2016

Students at Buckinghamshire New University have come up with ideas to help SignHealth communicate its campaigns and events.

SignHealth’s Hannah Holt and Jenny Angliss spent a morning with students in Bucks Business School studying a module in marketing communications.

The tasks included launching campaigns for primary school children to design a new mascot for the charity, and ways to promote Deaf Awareness Week in May.

Hannah, Fundraising & Supporter Care Assistant at SignHealth, studied BA (Hons) Public Relations and Marketing Communications at Bucks New University, and returned to lead the session with Jenny.

The students came up with lots of fresh and exciting ideas

Jenny said: “We were delighted to be invited to Bucks New University to work with the students. The students came up with lots of fresh and exciting ideas for us to take back to the charity.

“We hope they in turn left the session knowing a little more about deafness and the work of SignHealth. Hopefully this will be the start of a really positive relationship between SignHealth and the University.”

Lecturer Ruth Hickmott said: “This was an exercise in communications and a fascinating example of marketing communications in the complex world of charity – led by SignHealth’s communication team.

“It focused on social media marketing communications with an audience who experience communication challenges.”

Hufriya Mehta, studying BA (Hons) Marketing, said: “This was a fun and engaging way to help raise awareness of the charity’s campaigns and to find out about different ways to communicate to their audience.”

Bad access, good access? Share your stories

April 21, 2016

How many times have you requested an interpreter at a doctor’s appointment and then arrived to find an interpreter hasn’t been booked?
Do you have to request an interpreter every single time you have a medical appointment?

From 31st July 2016, all NHS and adult social care organisations are required by law to follow a new set of rules called the Accessible Information Standard. Organisations MUST identify and record the information and communication needs of their patients, and with permission, share the information with other health providers to make sure patients can fully access any medical information they may require.
To make sure health professionals understand how important the new Accessible Information Standard is, we would like to film three deaf people telling their story about real life experiences deaf people face when trying to access healthcare.
If you would like to tell your story, please send an email to and we will get in touch.
https://vimeo.com/163663022

World faces ‘unrelenting march’ of diabetes says WHO

April 7, 2016

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a report for World Health Day (April 7^th) that says the world faces an ‘unrelenting march’ of diabetes. The disease, which affects nearly 1 in 11 adults, will increase unless ‘drastic action’ is taken according to WHO.

The report talks about both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and says the biggest increase is in Type 2, the form closely linked to diet and lifestyle. An estimated 422 million people were living with diabetes in 2014 compared to 108 million in 1980.

The vast majority of people in the world with diabetes have Type 2, which is caused by being overweight and inactive. Combatting the rise in diabetes is vital as it is the eight biggest killer in the world.

“If we are to make any headway in halting the rise in diabetes, we need to rethink our daily lives: to eat healthily, be physically active, and avoid excessive weight gain,” says Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.

The research for SignHealth’s Sick Of It report found that almost one in twelve Deaf people had higher than normal blood sugar levels, a warning sign for diabetes. That figure is nearly four times the rate of pre-diabetic cases in the rest of the population.

That’s why SignHealth has created BSL videos on diabetes which you can watch here.

Image Credit: Alden Chadwick

Deaf Therapy, Wherever You Live

April 6, 2016

Most Deaf people in England face a variety of barriers if they want psychological therapy. These barriers vary from place to place so whether you can get therapy depends on where you live. This is called a ‘postcode lottery’.

The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth has produced a roadmap which shows some of the common barriers people face in different parts of the country.

In the UK psychological therapy is commissioned by local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). There are more than 200 CCGs in the UK. They decide what services are needed for people living in their area. That should include Deaf people!

Click here for more information about deaf Clinical Commissioning Groups

Here are some examples of how deaf people’s access to therapy is different depending on where they live.

In Liverpool, there is a contract to provide Deaf therapy which means Deaf people can receive therapy straight away. BUT, a few miles down the road, there is no contract and Deaf people there have to apply for Deaf therapy and wait 7-9 months for a decision.

One CCG in Wiltshire does not provide Deaf therapy and they told the Deaf person that if they want therapy, they have to bring their own interpreter! If they do not bring their own interpreter, they cannot access therapy.

In Derby, Salford and Southampton, Deaf people must go to a mainstream therapy service first and if they are not happy after a few sessions, they can then request a Deaf therapist.

Hammersmith and Fulham CCG do provide Deaf therapy but only with the support from the GP. It has been reported that some GPs are not supporting this. They are acting as a barrier. This needs to be removed.

The barriers faced by Deaf people are real and they are important. Most people who want psychological therapy just want help. They do not want to have to ‘take on the system’ and fight for their rights. Deaf people should not have to fight for their rights. Understandably, some people cannot face this so they do not get any help. This is why SignHealth is campaigning for a national psychology therapy service. All CCGs could come together and commission one service that is available to everyone, everywhere. No more barriers, no more postcode lottery.

Please support our campaign, TherapyTheDeafWay by signing our petition.

Claire’s Story

When Claire became depressed she was referred to a hearing therapist – a person who didn’t understand her culture or background as a deaf woman. Claire’s story demonstrates why therapy delivered directly to deaf people in British Sign Language is vital.

Claire first became depressed following the births of her two children. After the birth of her second child her depression became worse and she struggled to cope. Yet she knew that she needed to control her life for the sake of herself and her family:

“I tried to switch off, I tried to move on. I had to for my two children, I had to focus on them,’ she says.

Claire hid her depression from the rest of the world; only she and her partner knew how desperate she was. She was becoming more and more isolated, spending time alone at home with the children and hiding from the outside world.

“I felt uncomfortable going out. I felt people were looking at me and I became paranoid that they knew something was wrong.”

Claire knew she needed to solve her problems so that she could return to her normal self and enjoy life again. She was referred to a hearing therapist and was pleased that an interpreter had been organized. However, when the therapy started she didn’t find it easy. Her therapist had never delivered therapy via an interpreter and communication broke down. To make things worse, Claire felt uncomfortable as she knew her interpreter from college.

“The doctor would listen to me and then respond by asking questions using really complex English. It made no sense to me. He wasn’t matching my needs as a deaf person at all.”

Claire feels she would benefit from seeing a deaf therapist who could communicate with her in her own language and understand her culture and concerns.

“If I had the opportunity to see a deaf therapist, it’s a real possibility that my symptoms would improve. I’d be able to express all my worries and problems in my own language… it would be so much easier to answer questions and talk,” she says.

Sadly for many people like Claire, accessing therapy in BSL can be difficult. Many have to wait months to get an appointment and in some areas funding is not available.

“We need to see deaf therapists faster so that our lives can get back on track sooner,’ says Claire. “Having the chance to talk about how I’m feeling will help me so much. I’ll get my identity back.”

Join SignHealth’s campaign for Deaf people to receive Therapy the Deaf Way.

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Here’s how you can help

1) Write ‘I Support ‪#‎TherapyTheDeafWay‬‘ on a piece of paper.

2) Take a photo of yourself holding the paper.

3) Post your photo on Facebook or Twitter and add the hasthtag #TherapyTheDeafWay

4) Sign the petition

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Thanks for your support

Thank you so much for signing the ‘Therapy, the Deaf Way’ petition. You have supported Deaf people’s right to equal access to psychological therapy services. And you have told Jeremy Hunt he needs to fix this problem.

We just wanted to let you know that, thanks to you, we have reached our initial target in record time! More than 1,300 people have signed the petition. This is fantastic. It means it will be difficult for the Government to ignore the campaign.

Recently we met politicians in Westminster, to prepare for the next stage of the campaign. We now have the support of the shadow health minister, Luciana Berger MP. The more people who get behind the campaign the better.

And you can still help! If you have not already told your friends about the campaign then tell them now. We want that petition to be even bigger.

We will contact you again when there is more important news. In the meantime, if you want to see what is happening, keep an eye on the website.

Thanks again

Celia and Paul

Taking the Therapy, the Deaf Way Campaign to Westminster

March 1, 2016

Tomorrow, Paul Stemman, Head of Policy and Campaigns, and Celia Hulme, Campaigns Officer, will be visiting Luciana Berger MP, shadow minister for (mental) health. Here he explains more.

“We want to explain the problems faced by Deaf people who want psychological therapy. We will tell her about some of the terrible experiences people have had and the barriers that are faced. And we will explain what we think should be done to get rid of these barriers and provide equity of access: so Deaf people get the same from the health service as hearing people.

We hope Luciana Berger will want to support our campaign Therapy, The Deaf Way. Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Health, is our target, and hopefully Luciana Berger can help us put pressure on him. If he feels under enough pressure he might just do the right thing!

The campaign has already shown that a huge number of people want to see a nationally commissioned psychological therapy service, where the therapist can sign fluently in BSL. We have been delighted by the response so far – people signing the petition and sharing on social media. Now we need to reach those in power.

We will do another blog tomorrow to let you know how we got on.”

UPDATE 2nd March 2016 from Celia Hulme, Campaigns Officer

Translation

“We have just come out of a meeting with Luciana Berger, Shadow Minister of Mental Health.

She fully supports Therapy, the Deaf Way campaign.

She was very keen to find out the problems and barriers that we have and realised that we do need support.

She will offer her support by asking questions to the Minister of Health, Jeremy Hunt. If we are not satisfied or happy with his response she will further support the campaign by sending letters and handing in petitions.

She will also tweet and use Facebook to raise awareness about our problems.

Luciana also said that her door is always open if we need further support from her.

Please carry on watching this space! Thank you.”

Image Credit: San Sharma