Action Deafness Impact Report 2024-2025

Impact Report 2024 - 2025

Preamble: As we pursue our commitment to transforming lives and fostering inclusive communities, Action Deafness remains grateful for the support of our stakeholders, partners, volunteers and community members.

Together, we will continue to champion the needs of Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing individuals, ensuring that they are empowered, that their support is accessible and that they are valued as members of society.

Thank you for being part of our Impact Report journey.

Craig Crowley MBE Chief Executive Officer

Introduction As a Deaf-led organisation dedicated to serving Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing communities, Action Deafness is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and the broader community.

This Impact Report highlights our achievements and the changes we have fostered across various themes for the year 2024. The document also includes exciting plans for 2025 and beyond.

Transforming lives - Our impact Over the past year, Action Deafness has successfully transformed lives by delivering specialist, personalised, care and support services that empower individuals, enabling them to achieve greater independence and improved wellbeing. Our focused initiatives included: Care and Support: We have provided tailored support plans to over 500 individuals; offering access to 1:1 support, independence building and services that have proved crucial for daily living.

Hubs Connect: Our regular workshops and community hub meeting sessions assist participants to enhance their awareness, build confidence and improve relationships with the wider community.

Specialist Complex Services: We offered specialist support to Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing individuals in crisis. With a focus on mental health and wellbeing, we ensure that interventions and support are accessible and provided when needed the most.

Our communities - Our impact At Action Deafness, we believe in empowering community engagement and collaboration. Our impact within local communities this year included: Community Hubs: We established several local hubs across our regions, serving as safe spaces for Deaf individuals to connect, share experiences and access vital information and services.

New services/projects: Our initiatives reached 988 individuals, raising awareness about Deaf culture and fostering increased understanding and inclusivity. These efforts included work through D-Youth Hubs in Derby, among others.

Partnerships with local, regional and national organisations: Collaboration with local charities and organisations has enabled us to amplify our impact. Successful joint initiatives (for example, AD 360 BSL Customer Experience and Deaf Lottery UK) have been launched with a focus on social inclusion and support for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind communities.

Engagement - Our impact Engagement with our community plays a vital role in our mission.

During 2024/2025, we made significant strides in enhancing our engagement efforts: Volunteering opportunities: We expanded our volunteering programme, attracting 71 volunteers who contributed many hours in support of our initiatives.

Feedback opportunities: Implementing comprehensive feedback mechanisms allowed us to better understand the needs and preferences of the communities we serve. Receiving accurate feedback enables us to continually adapt our services effectively.

Promotion and awareness: Our efforts in delivering Deaf Awareness Training and SignTranslate services made waves; raising awareness about Deaf culture, BSL and Deaf related issues.

Impactful discussions and collaborations with local authorities and stakeholders followed.

Case study - Transforming lives The following are three case studies showcasing how our specialist support has made a difference in the lives of individuals with complex needs.

Case study 1: Deaf man with complex needs and challenging behaviour

Background: John, a Deaf man in his 30s, faced significant challenges throughout his life, particularly regarding his complex needs and behaviour. After being rejected by four residential care services due to concerns about his challenging behaviour and limited communication skills, he found himself released from a mental health unit with one provider willing to offer him a service in a supported living environment.

Support provided: Action Deafness stepped in to provide John with the specialist support he urgently needed. We facilitated John’s move into a two-bedroom house with support and partnership from a housing association. He received tailored assistance, including communication support and life skills training.

Impact: With hard work and determination, John began to develop his independence and build confidence in his abilities. Over time, he learned essential life skills, such as cooking, budgeting, and traveling. One of his remarkable achievements has been his newfound ability to travel independently, which significantly enhanced his social participation.

John’s family noticed the profound changes in his behaviour and mindset. They expressed their gratitude and recommended Action Deafness to others in similar situations. John’s journey highlights the importance of providing tailored support and an understanding environment to enable individuals with complex needs to thrive.

Case study 2: Deafblind woman in her 40s with Autism

Background: Carla, a Deafblind woman in her 40s with Autism, had spent many years living with her elderly parents. When her parents were no longer able to provide support, the transition from her family home to independent living became a daunting prospect.

Support provided: To facilitate her independence, Action Deafness partnered with a housing association to make necessary adjustments to a ground-floor apartment that would meet Carla's specific needs. Additionally, she received Communicator Guide Support to assist her in navigating daily life.

Impact: Carla's move into her new apartment marked a significant turning point in her journey. With the support of her Communicator Guide, she gained the confidence to manage daily living skills, such as grocery shopping, housekeeping, and maintaining her wellbeing.

Over time, Carla developed a sense of belonging in her new environment and began participating in community activities. This improved her quality of life and allowed her to form meaningful relationships, fostering her independence and overall wellbeing.

Case study 3: Young person with learning disability

Background: Tom, a young Deaf individual with a learning disability, had a history of drug misuse which led to periods of incarceration and probation service involvement.

He struggled with limited communication skills and had difficulty accessing support.

Support provided: Action Deafness provided Tom with specialist support to help him turn his life around. Through rehabilitation programmes provided by the local authority’s drug and alcohol recovery service, we provided 1:1 communication support that facilitated his understanding and learning, empowering him to engage actively in the recovery process.

Impact: Tom’s experience with our support services transformed his life. He attended rehabilitation programmes aimed at addressing his past challenges and developing new skills for a healthier lifestyle. Alongside this support, he started attending local Deaf clubs, where he could connect with peers, share experiences, and participate in social activities.

The combination of practical support and community engagement has sparked a newfound sense of purpose and direction in Tom’s life; significantly reducing his risk of reoffending and leading to sustained improvements in his wellbeing and independence.

Dignity and thanks The names, places and key information have been changed to protect the anonymity of the individuals above. However these case studies illustrate the profound impact of Action Deafness’ support on the lives of individuals with complex needs.

By tailoring our services to meet the unique challenges faced by Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing individuals, we empower them to achieve independence, confidence, and improved wellbeing.

We extend our thanks to the local councils, health authorities and housing providers for their financial and strategic support which allows this transformational work to take place.

Without this collaboration, the lives of these individuals would have been significantly disadvantaged.

Together, we are making a difference and fostering a more inclusive and supportive community. Our commitment to enabling positive change remains steadfast as we continue to create meaningful pathways for the communities we serve.

Looking ahead to 2025/2026 – Our impact Moving forwards, Action Deafness is excited to build on our successes.

Our priorities for the upcoming year include: Enhancing digital accessibility: We will make our support more accessible by using online tools so more people can benefit from our service.

New projects for youth engagement: We will start new youth programmes for young people. We will focus on mentoring, learning, preparing for employment and independence training.

Growth in new areas: We will take our specialist services to new areas of the UK to address unmet need in the community.

Get involved Here at Action Deafness, we invite everyone to join us in making a positive impact.

These are some of the ways you can contribute: Volunteer: Share your time and skills by volunteering with us at community hub events and projects.

Support our projects: Your donations can help sustain our vital services. Every contribution makes a difference.

Raise awareness: Help us spread the word about Action Deafness and the initiatives we undertake. Follow us on social media and share our mission within your networks.

www.actiondeafness.org.uk Call us in BSL via AD 360 on our website +(44) 0116 253 3200 enquiries@actiondeafness.org.uk Registered Charity No: 1163758 (England & Wales); SC050670 (Scotland) Company (limited by guarantee) Registration No: 06706042