Preamble:
Aswepursueourcommitmenttotransforminglivesandfosteringinclusive communities,ActionDeafnessremainsgratefulforthesupportofourstakeholders, partners,volunteersandcommunitymembers
Together,wewillcontinuetochampiontheneedsofDeaf,Deafblind,andHardof Hearingindividuals,ensuringthattheyareempowered,thattheirsupportis accessibleandthattheyarevaluedasmembersofsociety.
ThankyouforbeingpartofourImpactReportjourney.
CraigCrowleyMBE ChiefExecutiveOfficer
Introduction
AsaDeaf-ledorganisationdedicatedtoserving Deaf,DeafblindandHardofHearingcommunities, ActionDeafnessiscommittedtomakingapositiveimpact onthelivesofindividualsandthebroadercommunity
ThisImpactReporthighlightsourachievementsandthe changeswehavefosteredacrossvariousthemesfortheyear 2024.Thedocumentalsoincludesexcitingplansfor2025and beyond.
Transforminglives-Ourimpact
Overthepastyear,ActionDeafnesshassuccessfullytransformedlivesbydelivering specialist,personalised,careandsupportservicesthatempowerindividuals,enabling themtoachievegreaterindependenceandimprovedwellbeing.Ourfocusedinitiatives included:
CareandSupport:Wehaveprovidedtailoredsupportplanstoover500individuals; offeringaccessto1:1support,independencebuildingandservicesthathaveproved crucialfordailyliving.
HubsConnect:Ourregularworkshopsandcommunityhubmeetingsessionsassist participantstoenhancetheirawareness,buildconfidenceandimproverelationships withthewidercommunity.
SpecialistComplexServices:WeofferedspecialistsupporttoDeaf,Deafblindand HardofHearingindividualsincrisis.Withafocusonmentalhealthandwellbeing,we ensurethatinterventionsandsupportareaccessibleandprovidedwhenneeded themost.
Ourcommunities-Ourimpact
AtActionDeafness,webelieveinempoweringcommunityengagementand collaboration.Ourimpactwithinlocalcommunitiesthisyearincluded:
CommunityHubs:Weestablishedseverallocalhubsacrossourregions,servingas safespacesforDeafindividualstoconnect,shareexperiencesandaccessvital informationandservices.
Newservices/projects:Ourinitiativesreached988individuals,raisingawareness aboutDeafcultureandfosteringincreasedunderstandingandinclusivity These effortsincludedworkthroughD-YouthHubsinDerby,amongothers.
Partnershipswithlocal,regionalandnationalorganisations:Collaborationwith localcharitiesandorganisationshasenabledustoamplifyourimpact.Successful jointinitiatives(forexample,AD360BSLCustomerExperienceandDeafLotteryUK) havebeenlaunchedwithafocusonsocialinclusionandsupportforDeaf, HardofHearingandDeafblindcommunities.
Engagement-Ourimpact
Engagementwithourcommunityplaysavitalroleinourmission. During2024/2025,wemadesignificantstridesinenhancingour engagementefforts:
Volunteeringopportunities:Weexpandedourvolunteering programme,attracting71volunteerswhocontributedmany hoursinsupportofourinitiatives.
Feedbackopportunities:Implementingcomprehensivefeedback mechanismsallowedustobetterunderstandtheneedsand preferencesofthecommunitiesweserve Receivingaccurate feedbackenablesustocontinuallyadaptourserviceseffectively.
Promotionandawareness:Oureffortsindelivering DeafAwarenessTrainingandSignTranslateservicesmadewaves; raisingawarenessaboutDeafculture,BSLandDeafrelatedissues. Impactfuldiscussionsandcollaborationswithlocalauthoritiesand stakeholdersfollowed.
Casestudy-Transforminglives
Thefollowingarethreecasestudiesshowcasinghowourspecialistsupport hasmadeadifferenceinthelivesofindividualswithcomplexneeds.
Casestudy1:
Deafmanwithcomplexneedsandchallengingbehaviour
Background:John,aDeafmaninhis30s,facedsignificantchallengesthroughouthis life,particularlyregardinghiscomplexneedsandbehaviour.Afterbeingrejectedby fourresidentialcareservicesduetoconcernsabouthischallengingbehaviourand limitedcommunicationskills,hefoundhimselfreleasedfromamentalhealthunitwith oneproviderwillingtoofferhimaserviceinasupportedlivingenvironment.
Supportprovided:ActionDeafnesssteppedintoprovideJohnwiththespecialist supportheurgentlyneeded WefacilitatedJohn’smoveintoatwo-bedroomhousewith supportandpartnershipfromahousingassociation.Hereceivedtailoredassistance, includingcommunicationsupportandlifeskillstraining.
Impact:Withhardworkanddetermination,Johnbegantodevelophisindependence andbuildconfidenceinhisabilities Overtime,helearnedessentiallifeskills,suchas cooking,budgeting,andtraveling.Oneofhisremarkableachievementshasbeenhis newfoundabilitytotravelindependently,whichsignificantlyenhancedhissocial participation.
John’sfamilynoticedtheprofoundchangesinhisbehaviourandmindset They expressedtheirgratitudeandrecommendedActionDeafnesstoothersinsimilar situations.John’sjourneyhighlightstheimportanceofprovidingtailoredsupportandan understandingenvironmenttoenableindividualswithcomplexneedstothrive.
Casestudy2:
Deafblindwomaninher40swithAutism
Background:Carla,aDeafblindwomaninher40swithAutism,hadspentmanyyears livingwithherelderlyparents.Whenherparentswerenolongerabletoprovidesupport, thetransitionfromherfamilyhometoindependentlivingbecameadauntingprospect.
Supportprovided:Tofacilitateherindependence,ActionDeafnesspartneredwitha housingassociationtomakenecessaryadjustmentstoaground-floorapartmentthat wouldmeetCarla'sspecificneeds.Additionally,shereceivedCommunicatorGuide Supporttoassistherinnavigatingdailylife.
Impact:Carla'smoveintohernewapartmentmarkedasignificantturningpointinher journey.WiththesupportofherCommunicatorGuide,shegainedtheconfidenceto managedailylivingskills,suchasgroceryshopping,housekeeping,andmaintaining herwellbeing.
Overtime,Carladevelopedasenseofbelonginginhernewenvironmentandbegan participatingincommunityactivities Thisimprovedherqualityoflifeandallowedherto formmeaningfulrelationships,fosteringherindependenceandoverallwellbeing.
Casestudy3:
Youngpersonwithlearningdisability
Background:Tom,ayoungDeafindividualwithalearningdisability,hadahistoryof drugmisusewhichledtoperiodsofincarcerationandprobationserviceinvolvement. Hestruggledwithlimitedcommunicationskillsandhaddifficultyaccessingsupport.
Supportprovided:ActionDeafnessprovidedTomwithspecialistsupporttohelphim turnhislifearound.Throughrehabilitationprogrammesprovidedbythelocalauthority’s drugandalcoholrecoveryservice,weprovided1:1communicationsupportthat facilitatedhisunderstandingandlearning,empoweringhimtoengageactivelyinthe recoveryprocess
Impact:Tom’sexperiencewithoursupportservicestransformedhislife.Heattended rehabilitationprogrammesaimedataddressinghispastchallengesanddeveloping newskillsforahealthierlifestyle.Alongsidethissupport,hestartedattendinglocalDeaf clubs,wherehecouldconnectwithpeers,shareexperiences,andparticipateinsocial activities.
Thecombinationofpracticalsupportandcommunity engagementhassparkedanewfoundsenseofpurpose anddirectioninTom’slife;significantlyreducinghisriskof reoffendingandleadingtosustainedimprovementsinhis wellbeingandindependence.
Dignityandthanks
Thenames,placesandkeyinformationhavebeenchangedtoprotecttheanonymityof theindividualsabove Howeverthesecasestudiesillustratetheprofoundimpactof ActionDeafness’supportonthelivesofindividualswithcomplexneeds.
BytailoringourservicestomeettheuniquechallengesfacedbyDeaf,Deafblind,and HardofHearingindividuals,weempowerthemtoachieveindependence,confidence,and improvedwellbeing
Weextendourthankstothelocalcouncils,healthauthoritiesandhousingprovidersfor theirfinancialandstrategicsupportwhichallowsthistransformationalworktotakeplace. Withoutthiscollaboration,thelivesoftheseindividualswouldhavebeensignificantly disadvantaged.
Together,wearemakingadifferenceandfosteringamoreinclusiveandsupportive community.Ourcommitmenttoenablingpositivechangeremainssteadfastaswe continuetocreatemeaningfulpathwaysforthecommunitiesweserve.
Lookingaheadto2025/2026 –Ourimpact
Movingforwards,ActionDeafnessisexcitedtobuildonoursuccesses.
Ourprioritiesfortheupcomingyearinclude:
Enhancingdigitalaccessibility:Wewillmakeoursupportmoreaccessibleby usingonlinetoolssomorepeoplecanbenefitfromourservice.
Newprojectsforyouthengagement:Wewillstartnewyouthprogrammesfor youngpeople.Wewillfocusonmentoring,learning,preparingforemployment andindependencetraining.
Growthinnewareas:Wewilltakeourspecialistservicestonewareasofthe UKtoaddressunmetneedinthecommunity.
Getinvolved
HereatActionDeafness,weinviteeveryonetojoinusinmakinga positiveimpact.
Thesearesomeofthewaysyoucancontribute:
Volunteer:Shareyourtimeandskillsbyvolunteeringwithusat communityhubeventsandprojects
Supportourprojects:Yourdonationscanhelpsustainourvital services.Everycontributionmakesadifference.
Raiseawareness:Helpusspreadthewordabout ActionDeafnessandtheinitiativesweundertake.Followuson socialmediaandshareourmissionwithinyournetworks.