The Group provides a safe, friendly, welcoming and learning space for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Women and BSL learners from a number of different cultures, ages, faiths, backgrounds and abilities.
The Group helps by providing education, social, cultural and leisure opportunities e.g. learning BSL, English lessons, historical and cultural museum visits and projects which serve to integrate the ladies in their communities, provide interest and learning and develop and share skills.
The impact affects both the Group as well as other individuals and organisations and the community with whom we are in contact - raising awareness of the needs of Deaf and hard of hearing people; highlighting communication needs and equal opportunities awareness; improved integration and community awareness resulting in raised confidence and better mental, emotional and physical health.
We seek out opportunities to get involved in a variety of projects and activities, including the local area:- parks (Gunnersbury Park and Walpole Park), library (Ealing, British Library), supermarkets (Tesco Ealing, Waitrose West Ealing, Wilkinsons West Ealing), museums (Wallace Collection, Strawberry Hill House, Queen's Gallery) Also advise and set up new projects with museums and galleries - including sewing, ceramics, painting, printing, and history. We have worked with the local Council to set up British Sign Language lessons, as well as Improving English for Social Inclusion, and the local Recovery College for Improving Confidence and Well Being courses as well as cookery from different cultures. Other opportunities have included visiting speakers - dentist, dietician, chiropractor, speakers on women's health matters, various cancer talks, stroke awareness, hearing dogs, domestic violence and deaf awareness training, political and social services information, exercise and fitness programme.
We regularly review and ask the ladies what they like/need and what would be helpful/not helpful, and why and seek to plan a programme around this.
