At Leigh Youth Hub, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where every young person feels valued and understood.
We have developed sessions where young people feel supported by our team to grow and become the best versions of themselves. As part of this ongoing commitment, 7 members of our team have successfully completed an Introduction to British Sign Language (BSL) course, adding an additional qualification which will help to make our sessions even more accessible to young people who communicate through BSL.
The Intro to BSL training provided staff with practical skills and a greater understanding of how to communicate more effectively with deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Throughout the course, participants learned a range of everyday signs and communication techniques, including:
- Introductions
- Names and finger spelling
- Numbers and time signing
- Family related signs
- Youth work and sports related signing
By developing these skills, our team is better equipped and more confident in supporting young people attending sessions, helping to break down any potential communication barriers to ensure everyone can engage confidently with our team. Everyone who walks through the Leigh Youth Hub doors deserves to feel heard and included, so this training is another positive step towards making that a reality. The course forms part of Leigh Youth Hub’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and inclusion. We recognise that small changes can make a significant difference to a young person’s experience, and we are always looking for ways to improve the support we provide.
We are incredibly proud of all our team who completed the training, including the wider team at Leigh Sports Hub, who work in partnership with us to deliver many of our sessions. A special congratulations goes to our Youth and Community Worker Hannah, who will be continuing her learning journey by starting her BSL Level 1 qualification in September. Her continued commitment to developing her skills will further strengthen the support available to young people accessing our sessions and programmes.
Our team would like to thank Manchester Deaf Society for their patience and flexibility to find time that worked for everyone and being more than willing to teach signs that would be helpful in the context of Leigh Youth Hub’s sessions.
