We are looking to raise £5,000 to help fund our work supporting the development of a small team of Deaf and hearing BSL users to enable them to deliver Deaf Awareness & Communication training to local Nursery and Primary Schools in Dorset.

Our 'Sign for Change' campaign will support three BSL users to study for an Award in Education and Training (Level 3) (AET) at Bournemouth & Poole College of FE. The cost for this 12 week course is £397 (this course is not eligible for funding or finance which precludes many Deaf BSL users from being able to train to teach BSL). We are also fundraising to help us purchase new IT equipment that can be taken in to the schools to assist with the delivery of our Deaf Awareness & Communication training sessions.

£5,000 will provide 3 BSL users the opportunity to embark on a career path as a BSL Tutor and enable us to introduce 600 children and young people in Dorset to British Sign Language each year.

Our 'Sign for Change' campaign will have a hugely positive impact on the local community as our deaf awareness training helps to break down the barriers to communication faced by pupils who are deaf or have a hearing loss and create a more inclusive environment within our schools. Equipping children and young people with the knowledge and skills to be able to communicate with deaf friends also increases self esteem, provides a foundation for developing sign language skills in the future as they start to think about further education and career paths and, most importantly, helps to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.