## **Empowering Deaf Society Annual Report 2022 - 2023** ## **Reference and Administration** Charity Name : Empowering Deaf Society Charity Number : 1131970 Charity’s Address : 2A Central Parade, Ley Street, Ilford, IG2 7DE Periods : 01/04/2022 - 31/03/2023 ## **Trustees** Trustees, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows: **Name** Ms Iona Manning Mr Bernard Wills Ms Lilija Vasina Ms Ravisha Krishanthan ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The organisation is Empowering Deaf Society formed on 7th September 2008 and registered as a charity on 2nd October 2009. The charity was established to support the Deaf community and has a constitution which sets out the objectives and powers of the charity and its manner of governance. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in the accounts. ## **Our Vision** Run for the Deaf, By the Deaf ## **Our Mission** To ‘empower’ Deaf people so that they have the power to change their lives for the better. ## **Our Aims** Our main aim is to empower the Deaf Sign Language community by providing access to information, advice advocacy and education, promoting independence and helping deaf people to fulfil their potential. - To advance education within the Deaf Sign Language community - To relieve unemployment by providing advice, advocacy and education for the Deaf Sign Language community. - To relieve need among Deaf people by helping them to access mainstream and public services, and thus helping them participate optimally in society. - To promote equality of treatment and opportunity and diversity between the Deaf and hearing populous. - To advance education and training for deaf teachers, teachers working with deaf people and colleagues of deaf people, with the objective of improving standards of teaching on behalf of the deaf community ## **About us** Empowering Deaf Society (EDS) is a charity that provides education and services to Deaf people in British Sign Language. In addition, we offer support services which include Advice, Advocacy and Employment amongst other things. EDS aims to expand on these provisions by offering an ‘added value’ service that can provide more than mere everyday solutions. We are in our final year of a three year funded project by Big Lottery and have applied for a 5 year extension, to enable us to continue this work. We hope to receive a decision from Big Lottery in July 2021. The three year funding has enabled us to provide 5 key services for deaf people; Soft skills, advice and advocacy, large scale social events, deaf awareness training and workshops on a variety of useful and informative topics. Big Lottery funding, together with various other small funding grants, has enabled us to provide the following: - Events - Workshops - Deaf Awareness Training - Deaf teaching - Information Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 - Advice and Guidance (IAG) and - Advocacy - After school club - Employment - Peer friendly activity - Fitness - Clubbing - Educational activity - Kids activity - BSL courses - Large events - BSL Classes for Deaf people (free of charge) - Street party We have been able to provide employment support to deaf people, with securing employment. We have supported them with all aspects of their new employment, including support with Access to Work funding applications, and education for their employers and colleagues. The employment support service is in very high demand by deaf people as they are finding it exceedingly difficult to find job. We have provided numerous free deaf awareness training sessions to various agencies, including public sector and these sessions are always over-subscribed. ## **Our Philosophy & Beliefs** At EDS, we believe that the optimal method in achieving our aims is to be a fully accessible organisation. EDS is focused on providing services to Deaf people in their native sign language and enabling them to access opportunities without barriers. EDS believes that by demystifying deafness within mainstream services, businesses and institutions, and by encouraging deaf people to become more confident and embrace their independence, a richer and more integrated society can be formed. ## **Standards & Performance** The charity will monitor its performance and outcomes against strategic objectives and priorities, internal standards and external benchmarks. Actions will be taken to respond to and learn from recommendations for improvement. Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 ## **Our Projects and Success** Latest statistics from ‘Action on Hearing Loss’ estimate that there are over 30,000 Deaf people living in Greater London alone. There is a stark significant gap in providing services to Deaf people and young Deaf people. EDS was established to address this gap in provision for Deaf people in London. British deaf people who have additional needs (i.e. the vulnerable, those from ethnic or minority backgrounds and the unemployed) are considered as those that are very ‘hard to reach’. Mainstream services are unable to engage with these groups due to communication barriers and lack of awareness in relation to their immediate needs, background and cultural differences. Consequently, the unemployment rate for profoundly deaf BSL users is four times that of the national average. Unfortunately, the statistics are far worse for those from ethic minority backgrounds, those that suffer racial discrimination, social exclusion and other communication barriers. Mainstream services are often inaccessible due to chronic national shortage of BSL/English interpreters. Our projects extend to all ages which proves to be vital when taking into account the recent closure of many deaf schools and reduction in disability funding within many academic institutions. This means that many deaf people can no longer receive the support that they need to access education within a mainstream setting. This will help to generate some income, however, due to the rapid increase in immigration under the previous Labour Government, it meant that the number of deaf immigrants also increased significantly. These Deaf people have become extremely vulnerable; firstly, because they are deaf and secondly, not only do they not know English, but they are unable to secure a sign language interpreter that is sufficiently fluent in the sign language utilized in their native country to access and communicate with any service, such as schools and health institutions. As of direct consequence, this has increased the demand for our service with foreign sign language users wanting to learn BSL in order to assimilate. ## **Empowering Through Education** Our project ‘Empowering through Education’ included offering Deaf Awareness training, BSL courses from Level 1 to Level 6 as well as after school BSL clubs for children. However, due to strict funding criteria, we had to limit this project to only a few specific London boroughs. Many Deaf people from outside of these boroughs were also interested in participating in this project, however, we unfortunately had to turn away many potential beneficiaries as we were unable to offer those living outside of Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 these London boroughs this opportunity. This, therefore, highlights the demand and the need for the delivery of such a project. ## **Deaf Awareness Workshops** EDS projects include Deaf Awareness workshops to all the 32 London boroughs. The impact of these projects was to increase Deaf awareness within the hearing community in terms of establishing mechanisms to ensure effective interaction and comprehension between the deaf and hearing communities. EDS has delivered Deaf awareness courses to mainstream organisations and employers. The aim is to create a positive awareness of Deaf people in mainstream society and improve communication and social interaction between the two groups. EDS previously identified a need to deliver teacher-training courses, BSL levels 3 to 6 and other professionally accredited courses to our own staff and the deaf community. This past year we have recruited volunteers to work with us in exchange for BSL 3 and 6 accredited courses. We hope to be able to do so in the coming years. ## **Better Deaf Access Employer Training workshops** These workshops consisting of a 45min to one-hour deaf awareness and accessibility presentation followed by an hour session of basic BSL training. provided a short and dynamic introduction on deafness and the barriers that many deaf people face to employees of different organisations in London. It also taught some simple tips to improve communication between deaf and hearing people. As a result of EDS providing such workshops we have had individuals from organisations such as NHS and Councils undertake a BSL level 1 course with us. Having a member of staff with a basic knowledge and understanding of sign language as well as having deaf awareness is fantastic and will mean improving working relationships between deaf and hearing staff within their organisation as well as to any Deaf service users. By delivering these workshops covering topics such as how to get a deaf persons, acceptable terminology to use when communication about a person's deafness, what being deaf actual means when trying to access any language and the various methods of communication used by the Deaf community, we have been able to provide an insight to many in the workplace the issues and barriers deaf people face on a daily basis. In particular, educating people and eliminating any possible stigmas and creating a more inclusive workplace, improving communications and developing a deeper understanding about the barriers Deaf people face on a daily basis. It has also helped highlight to organisations EDS services and support available to them. Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 ## **Network events** EDS are running networking events aimed at helping organisations and charities to be more accessible for Deaf people access. EDS are taking a problem-solving approach and meeting with a number of mainstream organisations and charities in London to make them aware of the barriers Deaf people face when trying to access services and how they can make their services more accessible for the Deaf. EDS also use this opportunity to highlight the services EDS can provide not only to any of their deaf clients but also to them as an organisation including offering deaf awareness workshops for their staff and advice to employers etc. ## **Employment Services** The gap in employment services in meeting the needs of Deaf people has become much more significant in recent times. The closure of certain specialist services from RAD (Royal Association for Deaf people) and budget cuts forcing mere skeleton services in other provision from them, has left the Deaf community increasingly vulnerable particularly within our current political and economic climate. Our employment service was set up several years ago and we recruited staff and beneficiaries to this project. Since then we have been able to provide support with CVs, writing letters and application forms. In addition, we liaise with employers regarding support needs, Access to Work for funding, and refer to interpreters/agencies to fulfil their communication support needs. We have supported many deaf people into employment at Waitrose, H&M, Coop, Travel Lodge, Amazon which has made a significant difference to their lives. Waitrose is a great employer, with good rates of pay and working conditions are incredibly good. Not only have the deaf beneficiaries benefited from gainful employment, but Waitrose staff have had education, awareness and exposure to deaf colleagues, and customers have benefited from exposure to deaf staff. ## **Advice & Advocacy** Our advice and advocacy services are a strong part of our overall service and we are proud of the work we have achieved and the people we have supported with this. The need for this service within the deaf community is a necessity to enable this community to thrive, prosper and be heard. Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 EDS aims to help deaf people with their problems, by providing the advice they need, in British Sign Language. The service aims to help deaf people manage the problems they have; using text messages, email, webchat or visit us in person where Covid-19 rules have allowed. For each channel we welcome the deaf person, allow them to explain the problems they are facing, then we carry out a quick check to determine how we can offer the client self-help: information with an explanation of how they might use it to help sort out the problems themselves. If the matter is within our expertise, we offer advice or we may signpost them to another organisation that is better able to help with their problem. We have supported many deaf people under our Information, Advice and Guidance, and Advocacy services. We have had strong demand for help with PIP applications but have supported with many other issues too. We have struggled to meet the demand due to limited staffing and resources and a significant increase in demand due to the uncertainty around the Covid-19 pandemic. For this reason, we do not advertise this service widely. We are also able to signpost people to other services if we are unable to help them. During the pandemic and due to lockdown restrictions limiting our ability to meet with beneficiaries face to face, we set up regular Zoom sessions as a way of disseminating information more widely than in one to one sessions, where beneficiaries learned about the issues affecting the deaf community and how to go about resolving them. ## **Other current projects** - Drop-in service for deaf people - Deaf Awareness sessions - School project to teach deaf and hearing pupils and staff. - Deaf awareness training for the public and charitable sectors in London - Volunteering opportunities give to deaf and hearing people EDS needs volunteers to meet the constant demand for advice and assistance and the effective running of the charity. Bearing in mind that we are working with a specific clientele the need for volunteers in helping us to reduce our operating costs cannot be overstated. - Large events - Employment support - Better Deaf Access Employer Training workshops - BSL courses - Afterschool BSL club - Weekly deaf club Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 - Weekly BSL club - Cycling event project - Fundraising event - Signposting - Women only project - Fitness - Mental Health - Network events - Children activities ## **Our Achievements** - Provide basic BSL training to London’s mainstream services, businesses and institutions, by offering BSL courses. - Provide BSL training to London’s deaf residents (where BSL is not their native sign language) - Provide Afterschool BSL clubs. - Provide Deaf Awareness workshops to the public sector and charities in London. - Provide Deaf Accessibility advice and information to organisations in London. - Provide services for Deaf people such as advice, advocacy and employment. - Provide workshops on fundamental issues e.g. health problems. - Facilitate tailored courses to London’s deaf residents to provide a basic comprehension of the employment market, HMRC etc. - Cost of living support workshops - Provide social clubs for Deaf people. - Social activities to reduce isolation and promote wellbeing. ## **Creating A Community** As noted, wider services for deaf people have been restricted due to government cutbacks. Many services are now not able to meet the needs of the deaf community. The barriers that exist between deaf and hearing people are becoming increasingly exacerbated, a step in the wrong direction. EDS hopes to set up future projects to reduce the negative impact of these public-sector cuts and the total loss in services. We have continued to work in partnership with external bodies, e.g. presenters at workshops and remote activities and interpreters. ## **Future Plans** Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 We are in our third year of a five year project, funded by Big Lottery, which covers the following five services: - Large scale community events (3 per year) - Services for Deaf people who are new to the UK - AQS achieve - OISC achieve - Information, Advice, Guidance, Advocacy and Employment service - Deaf Awareness Training in all London boroughs - Information Workshops - Employment support - Better work project The deaf community have continued to be severely affected by effects of the pandemic, with reports of declines in mental health, well-being and access to services. Also they are massively struggling with the current cost of living crisis we are experiencing . In addition to the above, we are hoping to hold a large scale collaborative arts festival in future and are already pursuing funding opportunities from the Arts Council. We have run health, fitness and sporting services in the past year, such as our cycling programme, and there is a need for this to expand, with running and basketball for example, and a continuation of the cycling programme. We hope to be successful in gaining funding for such sporting project Our successful BSL in Schools project is now back up and running and we hope it continues to grow from strength to strengrth in the coming year with the introduction of the BSL curriculum and introduction of the BSL GCSE coming 2025 ## **Deaf club** Our weekly Deaf club is back up and running this year and is great space for Deaf people to come together, have a meal and socialise. Our aim has always been to deliver the community-centred projects that we have designed. EDS will continue with its ongoing research to identify needs within the community along with funding opportunities. Once needs have been identified, EDS will follow procedure in order to secure funding and deliver projects in accordance to the needs identified. We are also continually exploring other funding opportunities to enable us to develop and extend current projects, and establish new projects based on need and demand. Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 With the intent of increasing the charity’s core funding, when lockdown restrictions end and we are able to provide services to external organisations, we will be charging mainstream organisations and services for training. The beneficiaries of the charity will therefore benefit from having this stable income. We hope to target organisations such as local Councils, Hospitals, the Police, Schools, Colleges, Universities and individuals. ## **Fundraising Strategy** We have received funds from the following funders - Big lottery Continuation funding - Trust for London - Jubilee fund - CRS GLA - GLA migrant fund - Local impact fund We are awaiting decisions from the following funders - Award for all - City bridge trust - Albert hunt - City Bridge Trust - Groundwork - Sport England - Art council - Clothworker We endeavour to continue looking for further funding opportunities to allow us to continue our work. We are so proud of all that we have achieved since we first set up in 2009; our portfolio of events, services and achievements is impressive, and we receive fantastic feedback from beneficiaries. Empowering Deaf Society is a registered charity in England and Wales – Charity Number: 1131970 I CHARITY COMMIS510 FOR ENGLAND AND WALE Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe perf¢)d To Section A Receipts and pa ments Unre$trfj¢tsd Yunds ))the no￿1 £ n8west£ Restrictsd funds Endowment fund5 10th8 nb•re#£ Totsl tunds Last y•ar tothe Nar•st£ A1 Recei Grants receiv9d"1 DoDaiion5 iècèlv¢d'2 In¢om• rocèbmd f¢r*n m•in 219,094 7.760 1,711 183,971 7.101 2,549 7,7 1,7QO Sub tot•l(Gross income forAR) A2 As80t and Invwtrnent 8ala•, 194.1 Sub tol• Total recolp 219m4 194126 A3Pa m•nt5 Dlrgcl Co8rs Suoport Co¥i'6 Mana omeDI & Admh C¢•lY Appo onm8Trt' payffléni'9 117 014 1DIJ $76 19 Stsb tot• 38,518 192.$10 2J1,026 A4 Afj••t and Inve¥trrt•nt u￿h•￿* ••• tab Sub tota 30.516 1V2.510 231,￿8 158,261 Nel of rnc8lpts/(paym•nts) A5 Tran•f•rB botwoen funds A6 Cash funds last yaar gll C•$h funds thls y•ar•n SS,88 26131 711.851 209,379 175.986 211,861 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unfestrictt Iun4Y• nearn*tf Restricted fund$ Endowment Md• to noBr•At£ Cateaorte> Dotails ¢0 near*•l£ B1 Cash lund8 181 Total lunds 26.831 Vnre*trict¢d R•striGt•d fund• Endowment funds to ndarKie Detstl$ CCXX R1 a{￿L￿nts ISSI 27101r24 Dets118 Cut ¢wr•ni v*1 nlll . z•#e Detsll• CO￿ IoFthbdl Cyrr•ntv•lu• B4 As50ts retalnad for th• harlty's own u$• Amount du• Detail$ Wh•n du• Sonlll 85 Llabllltl•s Signed ty ona or kn Iws1￿ cm of all the t1ust￿$ S¥nattwe P￿nt N8me Date of opproval 110,k)i CCXX R2 ar%¥wnb ISSI 27101124 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Indèpendent Examiner's Report Report to tho Irust••sl members of Empowering Deaf Society On accounts for the year endéd 31 March 2023 Charlty no (If anyl 1131970 Set out on pages 34 I report to the Irust8ès on my examin8b.on of the ac￿Unts of the above charity (Ihe Trust") for the year ended 3110312021. Re$ponslbSlltles and basls of rèport As the charlvs trustees. you are responsible for the preparatlon of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of th8 Charilies Act 2011 (Ihe Acl'l. I rep)rt in respect of my examinatlon of the Trust's accounts carrled out und8r secb'on 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinallon, I have followed all the applicable Direclions given by the Charity Commission under sedion 145(5Mbl of the Act. Independont examlnerf8 Statemont I have no concems and have comg across no other mattèfs In conn8ctSon with thé examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in ordér to ana￿e 8 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned.. Date: 2710112024 Nam•: Osama Ayub Relevant profos8lonal qualfflcatlon{sl or body (If any): FCCA, CTA Address: 76 Aveling Close Purf¢y CR8 4DW Section B Disclosure Only completa rf the examiner needs to highlight materfal matters of ¢0￿cern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: difects'ons and guidance for examiners). IER Oct 2018 Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018