Summary of D.E.A.F

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Full summary of D.E.A.F's Objectives

 

D.E.A.F’s objectives are to provide Quality of Life (QoL) programmes for Deaf people in Swindon borough with the assistance of potential Partnerships; with the aim of getting immediate core funding and long term sustainable funding together. The funding is to employ a full time Development Coordinator, admin. staff and an office to carry out D.E.A.F’s tasks as undertaken by the objectives set down by the steering group members.  A further strategy is to obtain charitable status.

 

D.E.A.F’s long term aim is to become a service provider working with potential Partners, to empower local deaf people in accessing information as well as health and social services, employment and education; furthermore, to work towards an inclusive society by offering, among other things, learning, communication and interpreting services as well as advocacy and mentoring.

 

Why is there a need for a Deaf users’ forum as a service provider? Regional Service Providers who work with integrated services as Partners are already in place in other towns such as Birmingham’s Institute for the Deaf (BID); Gloucester Deaf Association; and others such as in Bristol; Oxford; Salisbury; Action Deafness in Leicestershire, Deaf Direct in Worcester; and other cities have catered integrated services to deaf people in their respective areas.  These Deaf-led Service providers already have buildings which are used in combination as community or walk-in centres for deaf people to visit. Swindon local services have an opportunity to develop a good working relationship with D.E.A.F to provide an integrated mainstream Service Provider by employing a full time Development Coordinator.

 

Recent analysis made by D.E.A.F has shown that Swindon is in danger of falling behind in meeting strategies to provide services for deaf people.  To cite a few examples: there is no communication access for Deaf people with social services; no youth service for young deaf children; no Deaf community centre; “One stop shop” is not forthcoming; no access to health service as outlined for the future by the new PCT’s “Our Health, Our care, Our Say” (Jan 2006); and Sure Start’s programme of Core Offer for children in Extended schools status as outlined by the Children’s Act 2004 has been almost non-existent for deaf children; there is very little Social Care’s provision using Supporting People funding.  Many cities with Deaf users’ forums that are service providers have provided strategies to deal with the issues as outlined by the Government’s new policies in recent years. 

 

Are there any paid staff to carry out D.E.A.F’s objectives? None of the steering working group members are paid, but are entirely volunteers who have dedicated tasks in creating D.E.A.F. as a service provider organisation to provide sustained integrated services to deaf people in Swindon.   Small funding has been acquired, and the steering committee is currently employing a funding and development officer for a short term with the object of acquiring immediate funding to provide a full time officer and admin. Staff to start work as soon as possible. A new full time officer will follow tasks set out by D.E.A.F, which includes building Partnerships with local service providers and seeking to achieve the aims for long term, sustainable, funding for the future of deaf people living in Swindon.

 

D.E.A.F. has made early gains in Partnerships: D.E.A.F. has recognised the needs of deaf mothers with very young children; “Deaf Dalmatians” has been created. Funding was sought from Barnado’s to provide short term funding for a nursery unit at the Swindon Children’s Centre. The Unit caters for deaf mothers who have shared access and communication with other deaf mothers and health visitors from the centre.  D.E.A.F has made a partnership with “Hands On” Interpreting Agency based in Swindon aiming to acquire funds from potential partners for communication access with British Sign Language interpreters in all situations including health and the social services by successfully securing two places on their proposed service user focused group, to discuss sponsorship and future grant issues should funds become available.