Who We Are
The aim of Newcastle Deaflink is to
- Improve access to employment, education, health, leisure and social opportunities for all Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people in Newcastle
- To raise awareness of the needs of these excluded groups to statutory and voluntary/private organisations and agencies in Newcastle upon Tyne
- To act as a consultative group offering training support and advocacy
Newcastle Deaflink is a recognised voice in the City for D/deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people.
In 2001 Newcastle Social Services Directorate brought together a small group of Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing (D, DB, and HOH) people to discuss the exclusion of these communities from Service development processes.
This resulted in the funding of a Community Development worker post for a time limited period of 2 years by the Local Authority. Newcastle Healthy City Project had a good track record of Voluntary Sector community work and agreed to provide the support structure and a base for the worker and the newly formed steering group.
One of the outputs from the various meetings was a conference held in October 2002 which highlighted the needs of D/deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people within
- Education
- Health
- Public Services
- Community Safety
This was later published in a report called “Your Chance, Your Views”. This report became the manifesto of the subsequent group namely Newcastle Deaflink.
Achievements for the last 3 years
- Set up an office base and recruit staff
- Establish/train a committee made up of beneficiaries
- Develop a legally structured organisation
- Organise an AGM
- Undertake a mapping exercise to identify needs
- 'Challenge' service providers to improve their services
- Ensure communication support
- Organise an annual conference where 100 people attended
- Set up a BME group from the 3 communities
- Set up a Gay and Lesbian Group from the 3 communities
- Develop a Hard of Hearing network
- Develop/research Deafblind network.
- Prepare a business plan
- Liaise with agencies
Download the Deaflink Evaluation Report 2004-07 (PDF, 424kb, opens in new window)
