Swindon & North Wiltshire Deaf Children's Society

It's our 30th Birthday as a charity
Help us celebrate our 30th birthday by doing a “Thirty for 30” during our 30th year.

Get involved as an individual or do something with family, friends, or work colleagues to help raise awareness and celebrate.

It would be great to get at least 30 pledges to do a “Thirty for 30”.
Here are a few of our ideas: but we are sure you will have many more-be creative:

Be like Tasha from Bake Off and Bake 30 cupcakes (Tasha works for NDCS)
Walk/run/cycle/swim/scooter 30 laps/lengths/miles/km
Do an activity for 30 days
Read 30 books
Knit/sew/crochet 30 things
Do 30 acts of kindness
Plant 30 bulbs
Make 30 jars of jam
Wash 30 cars

We are sure you will have many more ideas-be creative and have fun celebrating with us.

Please let us know what you are going to do and when -you have until June 2024 when we will celebrate at our Annual General Meeting.

If you would like to get people to sponsor you then you can do this via Just Giving https://www.justgiving.com/swindonnorthwiltshiredcs
It would also be great to have photos we can share on the SNWDCS website and/or Facebook.

If you want any help or want to share what you are doing then please email [email protected]

NEW COMMITTEE ANNOUCEMENT
On Thursday 13th June we held our Annual General Meeting. A new committee was appointed.

Josie Singleton - Co-chairperson
Michelle Lloyd - Co-chairperson
Jo Coote - Trustee
Les Cavilla - Treasurer
Emily Beardshall - Secretary
Salim Suleman - Safeguarding Officer
Victoria Jones - committee member
Hayley Cozens - committe member

Thanks to everyone who voted online or attended. Please email [email protected] if you would like a copy of the notes from the meeting. We are looking forwards to another exciting year.

https://youtu.be/PUTzStqxM90

Volunteers' Week 2023 Thank You

CALLING ALL BAKERS....

NEXT WEEKEND IS THE ANNUAL PIG RACING FUNDRAISER. YOU CAN REALLY HELP SWINDON AND NORTH WILTSHIRE DEAF CHILDREN'S SOCIETY (DCS) BY BAKING CAKES FOR SALE ON THE DCS STAND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE BRILLIANT EVENTS WE RUN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CAKES CAN BE DROPPED OFF ON THE DAY AT AROUND 11AM. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO BAKE, BUT NEED TO DROP OFF BEFORE THE DAY, THEN PLEASE LET US KNOW BY EMAILING [email protected] SO THAT WE CAN ARRANGE COLLECTION OR MEETING UP.

WE REALLY DO GET THROUGH LOADS OF CAKE SO ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THE EVENT IS ON SUNDAY 4TH JUNE AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME FOR A DAY OF FAMILY FUN AT HELEN BROWNING'S ROYAL OAK, CUES LANE, BISHOPSTONE, SN6 8PP.

It's deaf awareness week and we have been working with Swindon Hearing Support Team on distributing deaf awareness book bags to pre-school children with a hearing loss. There is more to come in the next few months....

Trustee - Swindon & North Wiltshire Deaf Children's Society This Trustee/Governor vacancy is based in Bishopstone, Wiltshire. Skills required: Social media marketing, Financial management, Fundraising research / Bid writing. Would you like to help deaf children and their families in Swindon & North Wiltshire - become a trustee!

We are looking for new Trustees and committee members - We are on the look out for new trustees, committee members and volunteers to support this small, but successful charity supporting deaf children and their families in Swindon and North Wiltshire. If you are interested, drop us a message and we will be in contact.
To find out more about what we do visit: http://www.swindonandnorthwiltsdcs.org

SEEKING TRUSTEES: Have you ever wanted to be a trustee of a charity? We are on the look out for new trustees, committee members and volunteers to support this small, but successful charity supporting deaf children and their families in Swindon and North Wiltshire. If you are interested, drop us a message and we will be in contact.
To find out more about what we do visit: http://www.swindonandnorthwiltsdcs.org/

Hi all... Following an Emergency Trustees Meeting held on Sunday 11th December 2022, we would like to make an Announcement of Committee Changes that take effect as of Monday 12th December 2022:

The changes are as follows:

•Jovi Ridd has resigned as Trustee and Co-Secretary due to personal reasons and will no longer be in office from 12th December. Jovi has kindly agreed to continue to support the DCS in a volunteer capacity. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jovi for all of her hard work and support and wish her all the best for the future.
•Tim Swinyard has resigned from the role of Treasurer and remains a Trustee.
•Les Cavilla has been appointed as Acting Treasurer via the Trustee meeting held today
•Emily Beardshall’s role will change from Co-Secretary to Secretary.

Your DCS is seeking Trustees:

As a minimum, the charity requires three trustees to remain operational as per our charity constitution. Two of the Trustees, Millie Green (Chair) and Natasha Gallagher have been a part of the Swindon & North Wilts DCS committee since September 2013 in various roles. Both trustees have decided that it is time for them to step back, therefore they will not stand again for committee at the AGM to be held in summer 2023.

Your DCS is seeking a minimum of two new trustees in order for your DCS to be able to continue. If you are interested and would like to find out more about the role and what is involved, please contact Millie Green at [email protected] to arrange an informal chat.

Hi - wanted to share as think this is important.

Teachers of the Deaf are essential in giving deaf children the support they need to succeed. But, the Government's plans to change SEND support in England don't mention them at all...

Parents have been telling us how concerned they are about this. In many areas there already aren't enough Teachers of the Deaf to support all deaf children. And numbers of Teachers of the Deaf continue to go down.

More money for Teachers of the Deaf should be a priority in the SEND review – make sure the Government knows. https://bit.ly/3AiLRab

Following a successful AGM last night, we would like to introduce to you, your new committee:

Chairperson Trustee - Millie Green
Trustee - Natasha Gallagher
Trustee- Jovi Ridd
Trustee- Tim Swinyard
Committee Member/Safeguarding Officer - Salim Suleman
Committee Member - Victoria Batterton
Committee Member - Victoria Jones
Committee Member - Les Cavilla
Committee Member - Josie Singleton
Committee Member- Hayley Cozens
Committee Member- Emily Beardshall
Committee Member- Ethan Barker

It is very exciting that we have our biggest committee for a number of years, with a wealth of expertise and experience. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who could join us and make this a successful and fun AGM.

Full meeting minutes are available on request, please email [email protected] with ‘2022 AGM meeting minutes’ as the subject.

Hi everyone - the Swindon Hearing Support Team and Swindon & North Wiltshire DCS have been distributing the Deaf Awareness Resource Packs into schools and it has been so much fun seeing the books arrive in schools and the interest it has generated for the children - see more on the story in Swindon Link here.
https://swindonlink.com/education/deaf-awareness-lawn-primary/

Launch of deaf awareness resource bags for Swindon schools Lawn Primary School was chosen for the launch of an innovative way of promoting deaf awareness.

https://campaigns.ndcs.org.uk/page/98705/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=FA_broad&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=fa_handraiser_2&utm_content=dec_2021_broad&fbclid=IwAR1t3MbDqiMJeC6psEKaWY66ByCj96FqHkizIz9yRiY53lFqYJm6DHIoEkU

I Want Every Deaf Child To Have Support At School: Add My Name >> It takes 30 seconds

Trustees and Committee Members Needed!

The Swindon and North Wilts DCS in its current form was launched in 2014, after taking over from the previous committee. In the last 8 years the current committee, plus committee members from previous years have worked hard to shape the DCS into what it is today. We are very proud of what has been achieved; in bringing families of deaf children together, helping our children to understand that they are not alone and promoting deaf awareness in Swindon and North Wiltshire.

Some of our committee members have been a part of the DCS since 2014, others have volunteered in more recent years. The parent committee members all have children who are getting older. After much discussion we have come to the conclusion that it is time for a new committee and trustees, with passion and fresh ideas, to take over the reins and continue to move the DCS forward. The current trustees, Millie Green, Natasha Gallagher and Emily Beardshall, will support the new trustees and committee with the transition.

If you're interested in finding out more about becoming a committee member or a trustee, please contact Millie Green, Chairperson by email at [email protected] so she can arrange a time that suits you to have a chat.

Language is important… time to ditch the deficit terms

https://www.batod.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/DToD-BATOD-Publication-Moving-towards-using-positive-language-around-Deafness-Hard-of-Hearing-Nov-2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1ry3lugeO16yI569dCxNdbvIE43WvzGRZ5R_0RWk0cHy52042XWHvQahc

www.batod.org.uk

For anyone interested in learning BSL there is a fabulous online course available offering 'what you can afford to pay' currently. Please visit https://www.british-sign.co.uk/learn-online-british-sign-language-course/

Online British Sign Language Course - Learn BSL Today The fast, easy, & effective way to learn BSL. Our online British Sign Language course is fun, & flexible. Ideal as level 1 revision & beginners.

We are so pleased to be leading this initiative in Swindon schools with the Swindon Hearing Support Team. The bags are being really well received.

Fantastic news!

We’re very excited to share an important, and long-awaited, update about clear face masks. Two types of transparent masks have now been approved for use in NHS health and social care settings across the UK.

Fantastic news! This will help so many deaf patients to understand their doctors or other health professionals more easily, and will be a game-changer for deaf children & young people who rely on lip reading and facial expressions.

The Department for Health and Social Care will start piloting transparent face masks in 2022. These pilots will explore the usability and effectiveness of masks for communication between staff and patients.

Find out more about the masks that are currently approved:
⭐ https://bit.ly/3IRNEEV
⭐ https://bit.ly/3p1F3aL

We also want to thank all the deaf young people, families, deaf professionals and other organisations who have worked to raise this issue. What an amazing result!

School resource packs - we are working jointly with the Swindon Hearing Support Team to raise deaf awareness. In the New Year we will be distributing book bags to all Primary and Special Schools in Swindon. The bags contain books with deaf characters plus activities to raise deaf awareness. The bags look great and we are really looking forward to distributing them. Let us know if you want more information.

Emily Beardshall, secretary of our Deaf Children’s Society talks on deaf awareness, Strictly come dancing, book bags and our charity. Well done Emily - listen from 7.45 on the link below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_wiltshire

Radio Wiltshire - Listen Live - BBC Sounds

Emily will be on BBC Wiltshire Radio Breakfast Show around 7.45am tomorrow morning (17/12) talking about Swindon and North Wiltshire Deaf Children's Society and Rose on Strictly Come Dancing. Maybe you can tune in!