Tower Hamlets

Information and Advice

We provide one-to-one confidential Information & Advice services including in BSL across England. Our goal is to  help  D/deaf and hard of hearing people develop their independence and wellbeing.

The Information & Advice support we offer includes, but is not limited to: 

• Benefits
• Housing
• Debt
• Employment
• Independent living

You can also visit our digital hub to get information in British Sign Language (BSL) video on a wide range of topics. 

PA Community Support Service

** Due to Coronavirus, there have been some changes to the YouChoose service.  Please click here for more information. **

What is it?

A one-to-one support service for deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind people. 

deafPLUS and Action Deafness work in partnership to provide Personal Assistants (PA’s), who support and develop service users’ skills to enable them to live independently in the community, to access a variety of services, including our own community activities and to build friendships.  

deafPLUS is part of the YOUchoose consortium, which includes several deaf organisations across the country, who provide one-to-one support to Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and deaf-blind people. YOUchoose is led by Action Deafness Community, a registered Care Quality Commission provider.   

What does the PA Community Support Service involve?

We can support you to live independently by providing :

• care at home, e.g. cooking, cleaning
• communication support, e.g. contacting services
• help to access activities, e.g. yoga classes

PA Community Support Service is available Monday to Sunday.

How does it work?

Service users can apply for referrals directly. Family or friends, members of the NHS Services, Social Services or anyone else connected to the service users who has their permission to act on their behalf can also apply. A referral is just the first stage. This will start a conversation before any decision is made, by all involved, if support is agreed.  

PA Community Support Service can be paid privately by the client or family, or through direct payment from Council.

Need more information?

If you have any queries about our PA Community Support Service please contact Holly:

Email: Holly.Ritchie@deafplus.org

Text: 07521 663987  

Website: www.youchoosesupport.org.uk 

Your Service, the way you want it 

Health, Wellbeing And Social

deafPLUS provides health & wellbeing activities.

Our work tackles health inequalities and social isolation amongst D/deaf and hard of hearing people.  We provide various activities, workshops, training and courses that is available for clients, families and health professionals to crucially improve access for deaf and hard of hearing community.

We provide various types of activities, such as:

• Health workshops
• Family holiday activities
• Deaf Awareness Training for health professionals
• Lipreading classes
• Arts and crafts events
• Befriender support

Look at our Calendar to see what events are on, near you!

Living with Hearing Loss

What is it?

Living with a hearing Loss is intended to support older people to manage the difficulties experienced by losing their hearing. This is achieved by providing access to appropriate information, skills and services in an empathic learning environment.

When a person’s hearing begins to deteriorate, communication becomes hard work. This can cause problems with family and friends or a loss of independence and social life. With the right advice, equipment, and tips for communication, people with hearing loss can continue to lead fulfilled and independent lives.

Since the Covid pandemic we have been offering all of our free courses on Zoom. Now we are able to provide 3 different courses under the Living with Hearing Loss project:

• Lipreading classes
• BSL For FUN
• Peer Support Group Workshops

Whereas previously these courses were available only to older people from London, we are now able to offer them to anyone in the UK with a hearing loss.           

What does Lipreading involve?

Online Lipreading runs for 7 weeks, for one hour per week.  This course covers the basics of lipreading.  You will gain an understanding of how better lipreading can improve the quality of your communication with others.

What does Online BSL for Fun involve?

Online BSL For Fun runs for 6 weeks, for one hour per week.  This course covers how to communicate better using a mixture of fingerspelling, everyday signs, and gestures.

What do Online Peer Support Workshops involve?

One hour per week, the informal and friendly workshop will focus on sharing your experiences and increasing your confidence in understanding speech.  You will learn about the latest technology, how to read and understand audiograms and other communication tips. A guest speaker will join the group to talk about their organisations which support those living with a hearing loss.

Need more information?

UPCOMING EVENTS

LIP READING CLASS - Download Information

• Every Monday from Monday 19th September 2022 to Monday 13th February 2023

2pm-3pm / 4pm-5pm alternatively

PEER SUPPORT WORKSHOPS - Download Information

• 6th July 2022
• 14th September 2022
• 19th October 2022
• 30th November 2022
• 25th January 2023
• 1st March 2023

11pm-12pm

BSL For Fun - Download Information

• Dates to be confirmed

Look at our CALENDAR to see what events are on, near you

Interested in us running a course or workshop for your day centre, church or care home? Please contact us.