A new information, advice and support service in Cumbria for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing

BID Cumbria

BID Services is happy to announce the launch of a new service delivering specialist information, advice and support across the county of Cumbria. This service is delivered in association with Cumbria County Council and will be available to anyone over the age of 18 living in Cumbria who is Deaf, hard of hearing or who has a dual-sensory loss and their carers.

This service will sit alongside our existing specialist equipment service in Cumbria for those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, known locally as Cumbria Hearing Loss Equipment Service. To ensure we are able to provide citizens across Cumbria with seamless support across both services, we will be integrating these two services to form BID Cumbria (Equipment, Information, Advice and Support Service for Deaf/Hard of Hearing People).

Through BID Cumbria we can provide access to aids and specialist equipment to support daily living alongside information, advice and support covering:

• Welfare Benefits
• Housing
• Debt
• Employment
• Understanding and applying for Access to Work
• Advice on consumer issues and community care  e.g. contact suppliers, Citizen Advice or community support  
• Access to Council services
• Advice and support to access BSL Interpreting
• Advice on access to legal services
• Information regarding local/national services, activities, training and opportunities available.
• Support to access social, leisure and community activities.

BID Cumbria will be delivered by an experienced, skilled team of local staff who are able to communicate with individuals in their preferred method of communication including British Sign Language, Sign Supported English and English. Support provided will be confidential and will be delivered based around individual needs and priorities.

Covid 19
This service will be delivered face-to-face and through remote service delivery depending on individual need. Whilst Covid 19 continues to affect our everyday lives, face-to-face appointments will continue to be available where needed and social distancing procedures will be followed. Once Covid 19 restrictions are lifted, community drop in sessions will be delivered across the county.

This service launches on Friday 12th February 2021 and is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Contact Details

If you, or someone you know needs support or advice, please get in touch with BID Cumbria:

Mobile (WhatsApp, Face Time, text, phone call): 07745 540182

Landline 01768 868510

Email cumbria@bid.org.uk

Facebook @bidcumbria

To find out more including opening hours, please visit:

Website BID Cumbria

Posted 12th February 2021