BID and Macmillan are holding a new Cancer Support Group at the Deaf Cultural Centre.

•    Do you have a hearing loss and a cancer diagnosis?
•    Do you have a relative or look after someone with a hearing loss and cancer?

BID and Macmillan are holding a new Cancer Support Group at the Deaf Cultural Centre. All welcome. Interpreters will be at the meeting.

The first meeting will be on
Tuesday 31st January, 10am till 12
Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road, Birmingham, B16 8SZ

•    Come along to meet other people who have similar experiences.
•    You can talk, get support and advice.
•    Sarah’s role is Macmillan BID Deaf Cancer Care Coordinator. She has 7 years’ experience of supporting deaf people. She has also been through cancer experiences with family members.

If you want to know more or to talk you can contact Sarah by phone, fax or email
Phone: 0121 246 6100
Textphone: 0121 246 6101
Fax: 0121 246 6125
Email: sarah.treadwell-baker@bid.org.uk

* If you would prefer an evening group please contact Sarah

Are you deaf, unemployed and looking for work? Come to the Work Club for Deaf People.

When: Every Friday
Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Where: BID Services, Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road, Birmingham B16 8SZ

25th November
Introduction to Work Club
Find out about looking for work, meet new people, share your ideas

2nd December
Benefits Workshop
Guest speaker from Citizen’s Advice Bureau will explain changes to benefits

9th December
Introduction to Access to Work (tbc)
Learn about financial support available for Deaf people entering employment

You will also have the opportunity to:

• Receive support from a qualified team of advisers
• Be supported in both BSL and English
• Meet other deaf people looking for work
• Build your confidence and learn new skills
• Be able to share ideas and experiences
• Have access to job vacancies
• Receive support in finding work
• Be supported by deaf mentors
• Learn more about benefits, Access to Work
• Identify discrimination and understand your legal rights
• Learn about different jobs from professionals from the world of work
• Participate in training and preparation for work

Would you like to attend? Please contact the team and book a place.

Contact the Employment Team

Tel: 0121246 6100

Minicom: 0121346 6101

Fax: 0121 246 6128

Mobile: 07702941949   

Email: Karen.young@bid.org.uk

Launch of new Sensory Impairment Service covering Lincolnshire to take place on Thursday, 10th November

From 1st April, 2011, BID Services, in partnership with Beacon Centre for the Blind and Deafblind UK, has been providing a new combined Sensory Support Service for adults and children across the whole of Lincolnshire.   The new service aims to create opportunities for adults and children in four key areas, by building confidence and self-esteem, developing communication skills, promoting independent living and developing mobility skills.

To promote the new service, called SILCS (Sensory Impairment Lincolnshire County Service) BID Services is hosting a launch event on Thursday, 10th November, 2011 at our new home in Checkpoint Court, Sadler Road, Lincoln, starting at 12:30am. Visitors will be able to learn more about this innovative new service, which is focused on delivering comprehensive support to those who need these services across the whole of the county.

Further information relating to the Launch event can be obtained from Jeannette Harper, Marketing, PR & Campaigns Manager - email: jeannette.harper@bid.org.uk or mobile: 07788 927435

Further information relating to the SILCS Service can be obtained by contacting us in the following ways:
Telephone 01522 848 295
Mobile 07702 939165
Fax 01522 699709
Email: sensorysupport@silcs.org.uk
Web: www.silcs.org.uk

Macmillan is hosting the 'World's Biggest Coffee Morning 2011' on Friday 30th September across the UK and has invited BID's new Deaf Cancer Care Project to get involved by hosting their own Coffee Morning at the recently re-launched Signing Tree Conference Centre.

The 'World's Biggest Coffee Morning 2011' is taking place from 10am until 3pm at the Signing Tree Conference Centre, located within the Deaf Cultural Centre, at the on-site Signing Tree Cafe. Anyone is welcome to attend and there will be an opportunity to meet Sarah Treadwell-Baker, the Co-ordinator for the new Deaf Cancer Care Project.

Through funding supplied by Macmillan Cancer Care, BID Services has recently set up the Deaf Cancer Care Project. The aim of the project is to increase Deaf awareness amongst health and social care professionals, so they can improve the care, involvement and support they offer to deaf people affected by cancer. The Deaf Cancer Care Project will also provide suppot, assistance and information to deaf people affected by cancer.

For more information, contact Sarah Treadwell-Baker, the Co-ordinator for the Deaf Cancer Care Project:
Telephone: 0121 246 6100
Text Phone: 0121 246 6101
Fax: 0121 246 6128
Email: sarah.treadwell-baker@bid.org.uk

The new name has been introduced to highlight the strong links and history the charity has with deaf people and to re-brand the centre under a name which reflects the culture and history of one of the communities it supports.

A Champagne and Canapés launch event took place at the Centre on Thursday, 22nd September, 2011, from 5-8pm. Visitors had the opportunity to tour the conference space, engage with our staff, and even tried out their sign language skills. As well, a special guest speaker, Martina Irwin, from Aims Direct, ran a short workshop on the effectiveness of using QR (Quick Response) Codes, an exciting new application that can be used to engage with customers in a fresh and original way.

The Conference Centre opened in September 2007 and provides a unique experience to those looking for a high quality conference venue.  It offers a choice of inspiring meeting spaces, designer furniture, high levels of customer care, great food and a light and spacious setting that gets people talking.  The centre deliberately strives to break down communications barriers between deaf and hearing people, whilst at the same time allowing visitors to gain an appreciation of the heritage and history embedded in deaf culture.

Visitors coming to the centre are able to engage with the centre’s deaf staff in a fun and friendly way.  Simple British Sign Language signs are displayed in the café, and if visitors want to, they can practice the signs they see by trying them out on the staff. For instance, they could order a sandwich, ask for a cup of tea, or even say a simple ‘thank-you’ in sign language when ordering their food from the café staff. These gestures are much appreciated and do much to break down communications barriers between the deaf and hearing world.

Jeannette Harper, Head of Operations and Marketing at BID Services said: The name change marks an important milestone for the conference centre because the new name strongly identifies with our history of working with deaf people. We also want to attract new business sectors to the centre, such as the corporate sector, which traditionally use hotels and private conference venues. By using our conference centre, which is a social enterprise, Corporates and other users can positively impact society and support their own corporate social responsibility aims without making any sacrifices in terms of quality.”

BID Services has been delivering interpreting services throughout the West Midlands since 1994, and is now poised to expand into the Borough of Doncaster, following a successful bid to provide a British Sign Language communications support service for Deaf and Deafblind residents.

The new service started on 1st July, 2011 and is funded by Doncaster Council and the Doncaster NHS. It will deliver British Sign Language interpreting services to support those who need to access mainstream services within the Council and NHS. To ensure a person-centred approach, BID Services will be offering service users choice in terms of how they access and book the service and methods offered will include a dedicated website, an electronic booking form, SMS and access via video calling.

Karen Rutherford, BID Services Communications Team Manager said:  “As a Deaf organisation, we have a comprehensive understanding of the unique cultural and linguistic needs of the communities we work with, and we look forward to providing excellent communications support for the residents of Doncaster which delivers real choice over the services they receive”.

Interpreting support will be delivered by qualified, professional interpreting staff, covering all communications requirements including British Sign Language, Sign Supported English, Lipspeaking, Deaf Blind communication, Speech to Text, Notetaking and Deaf Relay.

Doncaster Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Councillor Patricia Schofield, said: “I’m delighted at the choice of communications support available in Doncaster. We are continually committed to looking at how we can improve our services to ensure people with additional needs really feel part of the community and lead normal lives. I’m looking forward to seeing the benefits of this new provider.”

Information relating to the Doncaster Interpreting Service can be obtained by contacting us in the following ways:

Telephone and Textphone: 0121 246 6134
Fax: 0121 246 6161
Mobile (SMS): 07984 683182
Email: interpreting@bid.org.uk
Skype: interpreting.bid
Web: www.doncaster-interpreting.org.uk
Visit the Doncaster Council Sensory Team webpage Doncaster Council Sensory Team

Through funding supplied by Macmillan Cancer Care, BID Services has recently set up a new Deaf Cancer Care Project.

The aim of the project is to increase Deaf awareness amongst health and social care professionals, so they can improve the care, involvement and support they offer to deaf people affected by cancer.

The Deaf Cancer Care Project will also provide suppot, assistance and information to deaf people affected by cancer.

Sarah Treadwell-Baker is the new Macmillan BID Deaf Cancer Care Co-ordinator based at BID Services in Ladywood. Sarah will take referrals to support deaf people directly or indirectly affected by cancer. She can be contacted on:

Telephone: 0121 246 6100
Text Phone: 0121 246 6101
Fax: 0121 246 6128
Email: sarah.treadwell-baker@bid.org.uk

BID Services is pleased to offer a training day, delivered by DAS.

Saturday 16th July 2011, 10am - 4pm at the Deaf Cultural Centre

This one day workshop includes:

• Mental Health Services for Deaf people (Generic & Specialist Deaf Services)
• Assignments (Clinical, non clinical & legal)
• Role of the Interpreter
• Types of Mental illness and its effect on language
• Working with Deaf professionals

TRAINERS: Brenda Smith, Pat Sands & Ricki Westbury

COST:
£90 (inc. VAT). Price include lunch and refreshments.

To book your place, please contact Sue Curley on 0121 450 7767 or email: sue.curley@bid.org.uk or diane.gledhill@bid.org.uk

BID Services, with a number of partners, is running activities for Deaf children and young people via an innovative Deaf Sports Project for youngsters from 8 years old onwards, and a Deaf Playscheme for 8 - 14 year olds.

The Deaf Sports Project has been designed to promote sports and allow deaf children and young people to try different and new sports. This follows a series of consultations BID undertook last year with educational establishments and youth clubs/groups to find out about the kind of sports they wanted to try.

Deafness can exclude young people from accessing mainstream sport provision, and they become isolated as a result.  The Deaf Sports Project has been designed to engage with young deaf people and empower them to experience and learn different and new sports.

An action packed programme of sporting activities, for all age groups (from 8 years onwards) have been planned for the forthcoming Summer in Birmingham. The attached programme includes dates for activities in June, which includes High Five and Volleyball. The programme will be changed regularly to reflect dates and activities. If you would like to be kept informed of any future events, please contact Alison Leach to be added to a mailing list.

Alongside this innovative project, BID Services will also be running the Birmingham Deaf Playscheme which is taking place during the first two weeks in August (Monday 1st August to Thursday 4 August and Monday 8 August to Thursday 11 August) and is for deaf children and young people from 8 - 14 years old. Participants will experience a range of activities including workshops, sports and trips. Places are given on a first come, first served basis.

To learn more about the Deaf Sports Project or Birmingham Deaf Playscheme, contact Alison Leach on 0121 246 6100, or email alison.leach@bid.org.uk

BID Services, with funding from Street Games will be delivering a Deaf Adventure Day for 8 - 18 year olds. This event will be taking place during half term in June at Ackers, in Birmingham.

The one day adventure special has been arranged as an extension of the Deaf Sports Project, designed to promote sports and allow deaf children and young people to try different and new sports.

This event is taking place on Wednesday 1st June and has been specially tailored to cater for deaf participants and will give them the opportunity to try a number of different sports including archery, canoeing, rock climbing and skiing. Although the activity is taking place at another venue, a minibus has been provided and all young people will be picked up from the Deaf Cultural Centre and returned at the end of the day.

Total cost for this event is £20 per child. Places must be booked and paid in advance and are given on a first come, first served basis.

The attached flyer/poster contains further information. To learn more about this or get in touch, please contact Alison Leach on 0121 246 6100, or email alison.leach@bid.org.uk