Projects

Parents and Children BSL Version
Deaf Action is looking for new ways to encourage Deaf parents to come along to Deaf Action and have the opportunity to chat with other parents to share information and take part in activities.  We would like to ask you a few questions to find out how you would like this group to run – please complete this questionnaire and return it to Kaz Langlands, Health Project Worker, or Debra Wherrett, Health Project Co-ordinator.  Information on how to return the form is enclosed on the questionnaire.  

Including You
Many people who lose their hearing struggle to sustain a high quality of life because it can be harder to maintain relationships, access services and participate in day-to-day activities.  Funded by The Big Lottery and NHS Lothian, Deaf Action’s Including You project provides Information, Advice and Guidance on a range of topics to improve the quality of life for hard of hearing people across Edinburgh, Lothian and Fife.  This includes advice about hearing aid maintenance and benefits as well as information about short courses and support groups that can improve the confidence and self esteem of people who are at risk of becoming withdrawn from social networks.  We can provide advice on a one-to-one basis, in your own home if necessary.  For further information about this project and for contact details, please click here.

Lothian Deaf Community Mental Health Service (LDCMHS)
NHS Lothian’s Deaf Community Mental Health Service is Scotland’s first community mental health service for deaf people who have mental health, psychological or emotional needs that make everyday living more difficult.  The service has been developed in partnership with Deaf Action.

LDCMHS is available to Deaf people who use British Sign Language and to people who are deafened, deafblind or hard of hearing.  The service is provided by a community mental health nurse and an occupational therapist, and is available between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

For more information, or for information in BSL, please click here. 

Charity Shop
Deaf Action opened its first charity shop in May 2009.  Based on the picturesque and busy High Street of South Queensferry, the shop sells a wide range of donated goods including clothes, books, DVDs and bric-a-brac. 

If you would like to enquire about volunteering in the shop, please email jacqui.lees@deafaction.org   If you would like to make donations or visit the shop, you will find the shop at: 31 High Street, South Queensferry, West Lothian, EH30 9PP.

Edinburgh & Lothian Deaf Health Project
Our Deaf Health Project provides courses, workshops and activities to help Deaf people who use BSL learn how to improve their own and their families' health. We also provide tailored, specialist training to health professionals to ensure that health services are fully accessible to Deaf people who use BSL. For more information on the project, contact our Head office.

Early Years
Our Deaf Health Project Early Years Service will help parents to:

• Detect symptoms of ill health in children.
• Access available health services with communication support if required.
• Be aware of health and wellbeing for early years children e.g. exercise, nutrition and behaviour.
• Learn about the health risks of alcohol and be referred to Community Alcohol Teams as appropriate. 

Please refer to the attached leaflet for further information about our Early Years Service.

New Technologies
We are researching how new and emerging technologies - such as videophones, webcams, pod/video-casts and mobile technology - can be used by deaf people for communication and interpretation in social, community and workplace settings throughout Highland.

For more information on the project, or about using new technologies, contact our Highland office.