New Partnership Is Set To Enhance Opportunities for Deaf Children and Young People

Doncaster Deaf Trust is working with the National Deaf Children's Society in a partnership that will enhance the opportunities and aspirations of young people in the region.

The new partnership has nine key areas of work that will help deaf children and young people to develop confidence and learn new skills.
 
Alexis Johnson, executive principal of Doncaster Deaf Trust, said: “We are really pleased to be working with the National Deaf Children’s Society to benefit our children and young people. Partnership working is vitally important and, by working together, we can help to improve and enhance the experiences of the deaf children and young people who learn with us at Doncaster School for the Deaf and Communication Specialist College Doncaster (CSCD). 

“One of the first projects under the new partnership is to train five of our students to become young inspectors for the National Deaf Children’s Society. This work is now underway, and the young inspectors are investigating public transport and will present their findings to MPs.”
 
Together the organisations will encourage businesses to achieve the National Deaf Children’s Society’s Deaf Friendly Standard. Details about how organisations can get involved will be announced in September.
 
Alexis added: “Our pupils are now engaging with The Buzz, the National Deaf Children’s Society’s website for deaf young people. We’re also supporting our students onto its Pen Pal Project that will enable them to make new friends and connections with other Deaf young people, as well as exploring ways to get them involved in their mentoring scheme.
 
“There are so many positives to come out of this partnership and we’re really looking forward to working with the team at the National Deaf Children’s Society to deliver the best possible experience for our children, young people and partners.”
 
Both organisations are keen to improve accessibility in the workplace too and are looking to work with businesses in the city, who will undertake Accessibility in the Workplace training and offer work experience and volunteering opportunities for Deaf young people.

Mark Bolton, Deputy Director for Young People at the National Deaf Children's Society, said: "We're very excited by this ground-breaking new partnership with Doncaster Deaf Trust. It will open up new horizons for the Trust's students [as well as] other deaf children and young people." 
 
“By securing the support of local businesses, we can also improve the prospects of deaf children and young people, not only in the classroom, but in the workplace too. We hope this way of working will inspire lots more partnerships across the UK and enhance the lives of countless more deaf students, wherever they may be.”
 
To find out more about Doncaster Deaf Trust visit www.deaf-trust.co.uk For more information about the National Deaf Children’s Society, visit www.ndcs.org.uk