Spring 2015 From the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association
Nov 21, 2015
Spring 2015 From the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association
Peterborough has the power! It was a busy day at
Peterborough Deaf Drop in on
January 14th.
First RAD came in to talk to
everybody about keeping safe
in winter, especially if there
was a powercut!
Then the Red Cross delivered
a fascinating class on first aid
that everyone seemed very
interested in. The topics
covered included how to
resuscitate people, to dealing
with choking and the recovery
position.
Customers thrilled with CDA Connects Service CDAs BSL interpreting service
has been a hit with customers.
After using our service, one
customer commented:
Both interpreters were brilliant
at the weekend, myself and the
volunteers and the other
interpreter were completely
satisfied.
Please do pass on my
appreciation for both of them.
They both fit in with the team
with positive attitude and
managed effectively with
interpreting and voicing over for
many complex issues
throughout the day.
Many thanks for booking good
interpreters and now I feel
reassured that there are more
good interpreter and agencies
in the UK that I now can
include onto my good book
list. Call or Text 07895
072132 or email
[email protected] to book
News from around Cambridgeshire
The Teaching Dream Team is unveiled
CDA Sign Language Academy
unveiled its new dream team of
sign language teachers in
January.
Joining Sarah Evagora was
former CDA chief Jamie Billam
and new teacher Charlene
Spires. Charlene is teaching
BSL level 1 in Peterborough
and Jamie and Sarah are
delivering BSL Levels 1 and 2
in Cambridge.
Its an exciting time for CDA
Sign Language Academy. The
rebranded school has seen
unprecedented demand for
places on courses with over 42
pupils signed up and many
more waiting for new courses
in September.
Improv Comedy night coming to Peterborough after last years success Deaf improv comedy is coming
to Peterborough again after the
success of last years show at
the Key Theatre. This time
around, Jason Sharpe, who is
well known nationally for his
entertaining Facebook videos,
is hosting and he will be joined
by the cream of UK deaf
comedy and acting talent
including Brian Duffy, David
Sands and Matthew Gurney.
The show will be on 28th
March and doors open at 6pm.
For ticket information, please
contact Jason Sharpe send
email or text
07921 334117 for more
information
NHS consultation at Fenland Drop in The Clinical Commissioning
Group for Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough are consulting on
after-hours GP care and the
111 telephone service to call if
people feel ill outside of
opening times. They were at
Fenland Drop-in to seek the
views of the local deaf
community. Gem Dixon, CDA
Caseworker said It was a good
meeting and we enjoyed
having our say
CDA will be actively trying to
ensure that deaf people are
involved in consultations in
future.
Tickets on sale for bikers comedy night at CDA Deaf Bikers UK are holding
their annual AGM and social
event at Hope Hall in
Cambridge on April 4th.
In the evening, there will be a
buffet and deaf comedian VV
will be entertaining the crowds.
Doors open at 6pm and tickets
cost 10. They are available
from Kerry Miller. There is an
advert page on Facebook.
Watch this story online here: bit.ly/1zWJ1Aj
Council consults on group residential idea for deaf people Cambridgeshire County
Council are consilting deaf
people to find out if deaf people
using support services living
closer would be a good idea.
For example, elderly deaf
people receiving some care
living closer together and near
to support workers who use
sign language.
If you would like to comment on
the idea, please get in touch.
Watch this story online here: bit.ly/199P2B0
News from around Cambridgeshire
Hearing Help announce spring fanfare fundraising concert Cambridgeshire Hearing Help
are holding a spring fundraising
concert. The concert, called
Fanfare for Spring, will be held
at on Saturday 14th March at
7:30 at St Lukes Church,
Victoria Road, Cambridge.
Tickets are available on the
door or by enquiry to
enquiries@cambrdgeshireghear
inghelp.org.uk or by phone on
01223 416141
Tickets are 10 per person, 35
for a group of 4 ticket and
students are only 8.
Ely Drop-in moves to Costa Coffee Ely drop-in has moved to a new location. Costa Coffee in Market Street is the new venue. The drop in meets on the 4th Monday of every month. Costa is wheelchair accessible and has disabled facilities.
Come along for a chat with friends or to ask questions to CDA staff in a friendly relaxed environment.
For more information, contact our Caseworker Gem Dixon on [email protected] or text 07786 434700
News from around Cambridgeshire
There have been changes to
the running of Cambridge
Deaf Pub recently as Adam
Linsdell (pictured above)
stepped down from the role of
organiser.
Adam, a popular member of
the deaf a sign language
community, has run the club
for over five years and
announced his decision to
step down when a
replacement could be found.
Brendan Casey, who for a
long time provided computer
training in the community, and
Andy Mitchell who is a keen
BSL learner.
The new organisers have set up a Facebook page where you can get updates. Members of all local sign language classes are welcome to join in.
The Regal Pub in Cambridge
is the venue for the Pub
meetings, which are an
opportunity for signers to meet
for a drink and a chat.
Its ideal for people who are
learning sign language to
meet deaf people and
enhance their learning in a
friendly setting. They plan to
meet on the final Saturday of
each month at 7:30pm
Thank you Adam Linsdell and Cambridge Deaf Pub changes
New Peterborough BSL Gathering Good news for sign language
users in Peterborough as a new
social event is being organised.
BSL Gathering will take place at
the swanky new Argo Lounge in
Peterboroughs Cathedral Square
on Saturday March 21st at
10:30am.
The event is being organised by
BSL teacher Charlene Spires as a
way for deaf people to meet and
for sign language users to get
involved in the deaf community
and improve their knowledge of
sign language.
The Argo Lounge is a brand new
establishment offering a range of
food and drink in an amazingly
decorated and spacious location.
Full of interesting pictures,
furniture and books, it feels a little
more like youre in a film, than in a
coffee shop in Peterborough!
Whos the Vladdy? Vladimirs Krumins has been
appointed to coordinate the
Peterborough Coffee Mornings,
taking over from Gem Dixon.
Vladimirs is a popular member of
the community in Peterborough
and is fluent in BSL, international
sign language, Latvian and
Russian sign language.
Gem had been running the Coffee
Morning for one year and leaves
to take up a full-time position with
CDA as caseworker.
The Cambridgeshire Deaf
Association board of trustees
are announced in January
that they have appointed
Andy Palmer (pictured with
the Duke of Edinburgh) to the
role of Managing Director.
Andy comes with extensive
experience of working within
the deafness and hearing
loss field with roles in the
charity, commercial and
voluntary sectors. His
responsibilities for previous
employer Action on Hearing
Loss included management
of customer service,
helplines, online communities
and e-Commerce.
As Deputy Editor of the
worlds most-read deaf news
and views website, The
Limping Chicken, Andy has
written extensively on a
range of subjects including
Access to Work, healthcare,
sport, politics and education.
Andy also co-ordinates
Peterborough Uniteds deaf
football project, Englands
only football scheme that
provides coaching to deaf
players of all ages. This as
part of his role as Chairman
of the Peterborough and
District Deaf Childrens
Society, a charity he has
played an active role in for
over a decade.
Janie Prince, Chairperson of
then Cambridgeshire Deaf
Association said: Were
delighted Andy has accepted
the challenge of leading us
into the future in the role of
Managing Director.
The selection process we
used was unique in the
sense that we invited
members of the community
to meet the two final
candidates. Their feedback
was important and I would
like to thank them for their
time and to recognise the
high quality of the applicants.
Andy brings with him the
right mix of experience and
vision for CDA that we need
to provide the right services
for deaf people in
Cambridgeshire.
Andy Palmer appointed new Managing Director of CDA
News from around Cambridgeshire
What do CDA offer?
Community Support We visit people at home,
or anywhere they feel
safe. We support with
issues:
Housing
Finances (money)
Accessing services
Health
Social
Developing new skills
Letters
Providing information
Emotional support
Raising confidence
Reducing isolation
Sign posting
Education
Employment (work)
Advocacy Advocacy is about
supporting people to
express their views and
concerns, ensuring
they understand their
rights so they can
make informed
decisions about their
lives.
Advocates take action to support people to: Express their views
and wishes
Secure their rights
Have their interests
represented
Access information
and services
Explore choices
and options
What issues can we advocate for? Health
Housing
Employment (work)
Legal
Finances
Social Services
Complaints
Education
Family issues
Access to services
Get in touch to find out if we are able to support you.
8 Romsey Terrace,
Cambridge. Tel 01223
246237 Fax 01223
411701 office@cambsde
af.org 07902 281668
CDA Support Services Support Advocacy Drop- in Services BSL Training Deaf Awareness
Deaf Church Deaf Social Events Information Sessions
See more information online
www.cambsdeaf.org
deeping_baptist@btinterne
t.com
Ely Deaf Drop In
Gem Dixon
[email protected] text
07786 434700
Emmeline Implant Centre
Box: 163
Cambridge University
Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust
Hills Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 0QQ
Tel/minicom: 01223 217
589
Appointments line: 01223
348 973
Fax: 01223 586 735
Huntingdon Deaf and
Hearing Club &
Huntingdon Deaf Drop in
Gem Dixon
[email protected] text
07786 434700
March Deaf Club &
March Drop In Deaf Club
St Peters Church Hall,
March, Cambs. Meets first
Friday each month from
711pm. Contact Godfrey
Palmer by email
om or Christine Pape
07902 282390
Peterborough Deaf Club
Kingfisher Centre, Bretton,
Peterborough. Meets
second Saturday each
month. Dan McMillan
k
Peterborough Deaf Drop
In
2 weekly at City College
Peterborough, Ky
Dai 07548 667944
Peterborough Deaf Skills
Club
2 weekly at Quaker House.
Charlene Spires,
Peterborough Coffee
Morning
Vladimirs Krumins
peterboroughcoffee@cam
bsdeaf.org text
07852882039
Peterborough Social
Services
2nd Floor, Town Hall
Bridge Street
Peterborough
PE1 1HF
Voice 01733 747474
Mobile text: 07917133170
Fax 01733 454445
Minicom: 01733 454449
Email:[email protected].
Peterborough Deaf
Football
www.poshdeaf.com
Andy Palmer 07949
571173
om
Peterborough and District
Deaf Childrens Society
www.pddcs.co.uk
peterborough@ndcsgroup.
org.uk
Add your details to the Cambridgeshire Deaf News If you would like your
organisation or group to be
featured in the news,
contact page or the diary
pages of the
Cambridgeshire Deaf
News please contact CDA
contact the office on
(18002) 01223 246237
February 14th Cambridge Deaf Club
7pm
15th BSL Caf Church
Cambridge. Deaf Guest
speaker is Penny Beschizza
from London Deaf Church,
Signs of God 2pm
16th Peterborough Coffee
Morning
23rd Ely Drop-in 10:00am
24th Cambridge Lunchtime
Drop-in 11:30am
28th Sign Post Anagram
wordgame and fishermanss
testimony 5:30pm
March 1st BSL Signed Service St
James Church, Hemingford
Grey. 11am.
2nd Peterborough Coffee
Morning
4th Cambs Deaf Church BSL
Small Group 11am
8th Ann signs the traditional
worship at St Andrews Church,
Soham. 10am.
8th Deaf Service at Deeping
Baptist Church 3pm
5th Huntingdon Deaf Drop-in
11:30am
6th March and District Deaf
Club Indoor Kurling 7pm
12th Fenland Drop-in 11:30am
13th Huntingdon Deaf and
Hearing Club 7pm
16th Peterborough Coffee
Morning
21st Cambridge Deaf Club
7pm
23rd Ely Drop-in 10:00am
24th Cambridge Lunchtime
Drop-in 11:30am
28th Sign Post Making Easter
baskets and soldiers testimony
April 1st Cambs Deaf Church BSL
Small Group 11am
2nd Huntingdon Deaf Drop-in
5th BSL Signed Service St
Spring 2015 Diary Dates
James Church, Hemingford
Grey. 11am.
9th Fenland Drop-in
10th March and District Deaf
Club 32nd AGM
10th Ann signs the traditional
worship at Soham. 10am.
12th Ann signs the traditional
worship at St Andrews Church,
Soham. 10am.
12th Deaf Service at Deeping
Baptist Church 3pm
13th Peterborough Coffee
Morning
18th Cambridge Deaf Club
19th BSL Caf Church
Cambridge, Easter celebration
2pm
25th Sign Post Rally
27th Ely Drop-in 10am
27th Peterborough Coffee
Morning
28th Cambridge Lunchtime
Drop-in
May 1st March and District Deaf
Club
3rd BSL Signed Service St
James Church, Hemingford
Grey. 11am.
6th Cambs Deaf Church BSL
Small Group 11am
7th Huntingdon Deaf Drop-in
8th Huntingdon Deaf and
Hearing Club
10th Deaf Service at Deeping
Baptist Church 3pm
11th Peterborough Coffee
Morning
14th Fenland Drop-in
16th Cambridge Deaf Club
25th Ely Drop-in 10am
25th Peterborough Coffee
Morning
26th Cambridge Lunchtime
Drop-in
30th Sign Post
Spring 2015 Diary Dates
Addenbrookes audiology
Box: 94
Cambridge University
Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust
Hills Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 0QQ
Tel: 01223 217 797
Fax: 01223 586 912
Minicom: 01223 274 494
audiology@addenbrookes.
nhs.uk
Cambridge Deaf Drop in
At CDA, monthly. Contact
CDA for more information.
Cambridge Deaf Club
Held at Cambridge Deaf
Association. 8 Romsey
Terrace. Third Saturday of
the month. Contact CDA
for more information.
Cambridgeshire Social
Services for D/deaf
children and young
people
Disabled Childrens Team
Box SS1012 Babbage
House Castle Park Castle
Hill Cambridge CB3 0AT
Telephone: 0345 045 5203
(General enquiries) Fax:
01480 376748
Minicom: 01480 376743
Text: 07901 226 356
Email:
mary.godden@cambridges
hire.gov.uk
Cambridgeshire Sensory
Services
Disability Service
Amundsen House
Compass Point Business
Park
Stocks Bridge Way
St Ives PE27 5JL
Phone: 0345 045 5221
Fax: 01480 498066
Send a text: 07765 898732
Minicom: 01480 376743
Email:
sensory.services@cambrid
geshire.gov.uk
CDA Support and
Advocacy Services
8 Romsey Terrace,
Cambridge. Tel 01223
246237 Fax 01223
411701 office@cambsde
af.org 07902 281668
CDA Connect (BSL
Interpreter Services)
Anna Baker 07895 072132
CDA Sign Language
Academy (BSL Course
and Deaf Awareness
Courses)
Charlene
Spires charlenes@cambs
deaf.org
Cambridgeshire Deaf
Church
For any information about
services or advice
concerning Weddings,
Funerals or Baptisms
please contact me, Jan
Smith, on 07596 652077
or
cambsdeafchurch@gmail.
com.
Cambridge Hard of
Hearing Club
Meetings are held at the
Meadows Community
Centre, 1 St. Catherines
Road, Cambridge CB4
3XJ.
Phone Pam on 235547 or
text Chris 07876108963
Cambridgeshire Hearing
Help
8a Romsey Terrace,
Cambrudge
Tel / Text 01223 416141
MonFri 9am to 2pm
Deeping Signpost
Nigel Frisby Deeping
Baptist Church, 42 Bridge
Street, Deeping St James,
Peterborough, PE6 8HA.
Useful Contacts
There have been some changes at Peterborough Social Services.
Sally Clelland, Support Worker will continue to support Deaf people. From February there will be office moves: Sally will be based at Bayard Place, Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1FZ.
Chris Nicholls continues to support Deaf people with their equipment needs.
Chris will be based at 5 Royce Road, Peterborough, PE1 5YB.
Peterborough Social Services will continue to be present at Peterborough Deaf Drop in.
Dont forget that there will normally be CDA
Advocacy Support at Peterborough Deaf Drop in and once a month, an advisor from the Citizens Advice Bureaux.
Contact by using the numbers on the contact section of this newsletter.
Sign Post Rally gets to 20th year!
Changes at Peterborough Social
Services
Christmas Round-up and pictures
There was plenty of fun and celebration around
Cambridgeshire this for the festive season.
There was a great attendance at the Christmas
Party in the newly refurbished Hope Hall
followed next day by an even better attended
Signed Christmas Carol Service.
Peterborough Deaf-Drop in held a very
successful Christmas meal with over 30 people
attending and March had a super meal at the
Oliver Cromwell Hotel and a buffet at Fenland
Drop-in too. CDA Connect Interpreting Service
provided a BSL interpreter to be there at the
Christmas light switch-on at the Serpentine
Green Shopping Centre in Peterborough when
Warwick Davies switched on the lights!
CDA Teaching Sign Language in Cambs School Sign Language Tutor Jamie
Billam has been teaching
children and adults at Guilden
Morden School at their new
after school signing club.
Jamies class has had wider
age range than normal.
His youngest student was only
4 years old and the oldest over
70. They all enjoyed the
experience though.
If you would like to book some
sign language lessons for your
school get in touch!
Deaf Businessman Matt to talk at Skills Club Deaf Peterborough
Businessman Matthew Talbot
will be coming to Peterborough
Skills Club on 12th March to
give a talk on how he built his
businesses. Matthew has won
business awards from Barclays
Bank and travelled to the
Middle-East where his work as
a surveyor was in demand.
Matthew was also the man who
was behind the recent
refurbishment of Hope Hall.
Andy Palmer, Managing
Director of CDA said: Its really
good news that Matt is coming
to Skills Club. He has so much
experience as a deaf
businessman who has had to
find ways to overcome the
barriers that society can put in
the way of deaf people who
want to work. Im sure it will be
a fascinating talk from an
inspirational man.
See the Contacts page on the
reverse of the pull-out calendar
for more information.
Huntingdon Deaf and Hearing Club moving to Tesco The Deaf and Hearing Club in
Huntingdon have moved to a
new location. The Community
Space in at the main Tesco in
Huntingdon is the new venue
and was well received by
people who went along. See
the diary pages for dates and
times.
Gem Dixon recruited as new Caseworker We are pleased to announce
that Gem Dixon (pictured
below) has been appointed as
CDAs newest team member.
Gem, from Peterborough,
started in January. She will be
working with clients throughout
all of Cambridgeshire and
attending drop-ins.
She will also be making visits
to deaf people in our
community to make sure that
they are receiving the right
support.
Im sure you will join with us in
welcoming Gem to the role and
wish her all the best for the
future.
News from around Cambridgeshire
Fun and Games at March Deaf Club .. As usual By Godfrey Palmer
On Friday 3rd October nearly
everyone played Crazy Golf.
Amy Bullock was the winner.
Rope Quoits was not an easy
game to play but Dennis Pope
was the lucky winner. Thanks
to John Uren and Michael
Manchett who were the
organizers.
A Social Evening and Games
Night was held on Friday 7th
November. Some people
wanted to play cards. We had
one round of Chase the Ace
and then changed the game to
Uno. Everyone liked this game
because it was good fun with
much laughter. Rita Kettle won
and she celebrated her
birthday on the same evening.
Some of our members club
went for a Christmas dinner at
The Oliver Cromwell Hotel on
Friday 21st November. We had
a three course meal with
coffee/tea afterwards.
I would like to thank people for
donating some very good
prizes for the raffle and also
thanks to Michael Pape for
selling the tickets. John Uren
organized a Christmas Quiz
with prizes for correct answers.
Thank you John. See photos
on website.
On Friday 5th December we
held a Christmas Buffet. This
was another chance to
celebrate the festive season.
35 people came & it was a
good evening with Christmas
games and good raffle prizes.
Unfortunately I did not take my
camera!
On Friday 2nd January 2015, I
didnt expect many people to
come this evening but 21
people turned up.
I was surprised because it was
just after the New Year
celebration. We played Chase
the Ace again because our
members like to play it. Guess
who won? Me!
Some played a couple of
rounds of Uno again. Others
just had a chat. We had a new
member join tonight from
Chatteris.
His name is Shaun Lloyd. This
enjoyable evening closed at
10.45pm.
Deaf Church News and introducing new BSL Caf Church Happy New Year everyone!
We pray you will all know the
peace of God in every situation
you face in 2015.
It was lovely to see so many
people at our Christmas Carol
service, if you would like to join
us for BSL Caf church at
CDA, you are very welcome.
BSL Caf church is relaxed,
informal church in Caf style!
Plenty of refreshments and
biscuits! There will be short
Christian talks in BSL, signed
songs and prayer for the needs
of the Deaf community.
You can just relax and watch,
or join in. Its up to you!
Afterwards we have Bring-and-
Share-food.
Dont forget, we also have
signed services every month!
More Cambridgeshire News
All the calendar dates are in the pull-out in the centre pages
Thank you to Lauren, Harvey
and Ruby who raised 441 for
CDA
Cambridgeshire resident
Lauren Mansfield and her two
children Harvey and Ruby have
raised 441.25 for the
Cambridgeshire Deaf
Association by taking part in a
fancy dress fun-run.
CDA had provided support to
Lauren and she wanted to say
thanks by raising some funds
that have gone towards the
refurbishment of our building.
Lauren who has been deaf
almost all of her life said:
A year ago I was introduced to
this fabulous charity which has
changed my life completely.
The support and work they do
is incredible to take the other
pressures of life away and help
in every way shape or form.
They truly are amazing. I have
decided its now time to give
them something back and say
a massive thank you to them
all.
We would like to thank Lauren
and her lovely family for all
their support!
If you would like to fundraise,
please get in touch!
Fundraising Round-up
Cambs Dad to run London Marathon for CDA and NDCS
Father of two Chris Bryne from
Bassingbourne has decided to
run the London Marathon in aid
of CDA and the National Deaf
Childrens Society. His family
are also getting in on act with
wife Natalie doing a sponsored
bake and her two sons, Will
and Henry, doing a sponsored
silence. Henry is deaf.
Chris and his family have been
supported by CDA and
Cambridgeshire County
Council by teaching the family
sign language and deaf
awareness tips for families with
deaf children.
Keep an eye on our website for
more information about Chriss
fundraising.
www.cambsdeaf.org
Thank you Lauren, Harvey and Ruby
Building fundraising update The campaign to help pay for
the building and refurbishment
work at CDA s Hope Hall was
a success with over 4,500
raised.
While the overall cost was
much more, the donations
were significant and work on
the public areas of the building
will be finished soon. Once that
work is completed, there will be
a opening ceremony.
Managing Director, Andy
Palmer said: I would like to
thank everyone who
contributed. As everyone can
see, we have a building to be
proud of. We will be creating
plaques shortly with the names
of donors and new Honorary
Vice Presidents who donated
over 500 and having an
opening ceremony.
The building is already being
used more than before and
thats the main thing. It is a
place for the community
Cambridge Fans watch the big match at CDA Football fans converged on
Hope Hall in January to witness
Cambridge Uniteds goalless
draw with Manchester United at
the Abbey Stadium. Cambridge
were playing in the 4th Round of
the FA and managed to secure
a replay in which they lost 3-0.
Around 15 football fanatics
watched the action at CDAs
newly refurbished bar room
with its big new TV.
Thanks to Steve Curry for
organising the event. Steve has
also be voted on to the board
of trustees for CDA. We
welcome him and wish him
every success in his new role.
Peterborough Uniteds Deaf team have their first matches
Peterborough Uniteds deaf
football team have been in
action. In their first game in
November they lost 5-3 to
Northern Star Academy with
Cameron Cockerill scoring the
teams first ever goal. That was
in front of 40 supporters at their
home ground, the Mick George
Arena.
They also played Cardea in
January and went down to a 5-
1 defeat with an excellent goal
by Chris Taylor. The team train
every Friday night. More
information can be found at
www.poshdeaf.com
Deaf girls and ladies sought for new deaf team in Peterborough
Peterborough Uniteds deaf
football teams are looking for
girls who are interested in
playing football.
The team currently have six
girls and their friends who are
interested in training. Each
traning session will be
accessible with sign language
interpreting and attention paid
to clear communication. For
more information, please see
www.poshdeaf.com
Cambs youngster in TV documentary about football
William Palmer from Peterborough was featured in a documentary about deaf football on BSLBT in January.
William, aged 13, plays for Peterborough Uniteds deaf youth team, Derby County Centre of Excellence and Peterborough Northern Star and featured in the programme called Does Deaf Football Have a Future by Thomas Giddens.
You can watch the documentary online here http://www.bslzone.co.uk/watch/zoom-2014-does-deaf-football-have-future/
Picture: Liam Avey in action for Peterborough Uniteds deaf team against Northern Star Academy
Deaf Sports News