Celebrating a Year of Community, Connection and Creativity

April 9, 2026

Highlights for our Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities

As we look ahead to the coming year and all we have planned as part of our Birmingham community services, it’s been great to look back at April 2025 to March 2026 and celebrate all we, our partners, funders and of course, our community have achieved. This has been made possible through funding from Ladywood Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS), The George Henry Collins Charitable Trust and Warm Welcome alongside wider fundraising activities.

Over the past year, the Deaf Cultural Centre has continued to be a place to connect, learn, create, and share experiences. Our Community Days on Fridays have developed over the year and with the generous support of our funders we have been able to deliver a full programme of activities. Alongside our Community Days, we have run special events and seasonal celebrations, all bringing people together, welcoming new members, helping individuals try new things, and provided access to vital information and support.

Here’s a look back at the highlights of an incredible year.

Building Community Through Shared Activities

Throughout the year, we hosted a wide range of weekly sessions, often with the support of our partners such as SignHealth and the Money Advice Trust, each designed to support wellbeing, build confidence, and strengthen connection.

Learning and Information Sessions

Many sessions focused on empowering the community with practical knowledge and access to services, including:

Money Advice Trust workshop
NHS App information session
Tinnitus awareness workshop
Sexual health information
Hate crime awareness
Domestic abuse helpline support with SignHealth
Power of Attorney information session

These sessions helped individuals gain important information in an accessible, supportive environment.

Creative and Cultural Activities

Creativity played a big role in bringing people together:

Arts and crafts with Sharper Arts
Crochet and knitting groups
Photography and video history day
Real Arts workshops during Sign Language Week
Visits to museums and local attractions

We also celebrated key cultural festivals and awareness events, including Diwali, Halloween, Black History Month, Eid, Christmas and more, each adding vibrancy and cultural richness to our year.

Health and Wellbeing

Physical and mental wellbeing continued to be a core focus with sessions such as:

Exercise and yoga
Chair yoga
Bowling

These activities helped individuals stay active, reduce isolation, and enjoy time together.

Special Events and Social Evenings

Alongside our weekly programme, we hosted a variety of social evenings and community celebrations, including:

Regular Bingo nights
Summer social evenings
Family-friendly seasonal events, such as Halloween and Easter
Coach trip to Manchester
BID Fest

These occasions were some of the most loved moments of the year full of laughter, games and new friendships.

Creating a Welcoming Space for All

One of the biggest achievements of this year has been seeing new faces join our community and become part of our weekly activities. For many, the programme has provided:

A safe, accessible space to meet others
Opportunities to learn and develop new skills
Support from peers and staff
A sense of belonging and connection

The variety of sessions has meant there was something for everyone, whether someone wanted to learn, be creative, get active, or simply spend time with others.

A few words from Warm Welcome Spaces

“We are very pleased that the BID Services – Deaf Cultural Centre are part of the Birmingham Warm Welcome Spaces network. Each week they provide quality community activities and support.“

“Each week the BID Services – Deaf Cultural Centre, plays an essential role in providing a supportive, welcoming and warm space for members of the deaf and local communities in Ladywood, as part of the Birmingham Warm Welcome Spaces network.”

Looking Ahead

This year has shown how vital community spaces and Deaf‑led activities are for wellbeing, confidence, and connection. Thanks to Ladywood NNS funding, our wider grant funders and our partners, we have been able to provide meaningful activities that support the deaf and hard of hearing community in living healthier, happier, and more connected lives.