To mark Sign Language Week 2024, the Trust is reflecting on the steps taken by the organisation to promote the use of sign language in recent times.
Since September, Derbyshire PLOD PSCO Sue Gouldsbrough and CFCCT coach Alyss have been working together to deliver British Sign Language workshops within a number of the Trust’s partner schools.
The project was launched to help raise awareness of BSL (British Sign Language) and to teach youngsters words and phrases, including finger spelling, numbers, and basic greetings, with the aim of helping integrate people from the deaf community.
This project had led to partner schools utilising BSL within the community, providing positive experiences for other.
In the run up to Christmas, Brockwell Juniors Y5 class to sang to residents at Goldwell Manor care home in Ashgate (see photo below).
The residents were overjoyed with the performance and said how fantastic the children were, particularly the fact that the pupils had not only learnt the song lyrics but performed the songs in BSL too for those residents hard of hearing.
In the 2022/23 season, the Trust gave children from New Whittington Primary School the opportunity to announce the teams in BSL on the big screen during one of Chesterfield’s home fixtures.
The project came to fruition following discussions between Emma Tooley (New Whittington Primary School headteacher), Alyss Jackson (women & girls inclusion officer) and Tina Jenner (club photographer), who put together the videos.
The Trust, in partnership with the football club, aim to make the SMH Group Stadium the most accessible sports stadium in the country. They partnered with New Whittington Primary School, who have a specialised deaf unit at their school, to increase inclusivity at the ground through the use of BSL.
Chesterfield Football Club believe they are the first club in the country that have given children the opportunity to announce the teams in BSL.
