Due to Government cuts to funding, Worcestershire County Council can no longer afford to provide any further level 1 (and beyond) BSL courses for those interested in gaining a BSL qualification or those who may need or want to learn BSL for a variety of reasons.

The level 1 course ran last year and this year a unacreditted course ran, but unfortunately the County Council cannot afford to run this one anymore either.

The courses were invaluable and helped some of us gain a level 1 BSL qualification. Aswel as providing us with a qualification and a chance to learn a new language, the classes gave people a chance to meet in a safe and secure environment and make some new friends.

But then it also provided something that none of us could have ever thought possible.....It gave some of us a chance to heal from past trauma and learn to trust that there were good people in the world again. It provided support. A chance to talk to others. And a chance to help each other.

We’re a bit of an eccletic mix so come from a variety of differing backgrounds, and I think I speak for at least some of the people in our class when I say that coming to classes also, most likely, gave some of us a reason to carry on living. In part due to the fact that we all came together despite our differences.

So as you can see, our BSL classes means a great deal to us and we‘d like to fight to keep our classes going. But, with BSL classes becoming somewhat of a rare thing and funding from the County Council no longer in place, we’d like to ask if you would consider helping us to raise funds in order to help is make this happen.

Funding means we can pay our amazing tutor and pay for the room at the venue we use and in doing so, we hope to raise more deaf awareness in the local community and give something back.

Thanks for reading.

Yours, Jake