Latest news with #ManxDeafSociety
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sight Matters: Charity to open special therapeutic space
A sight loss charity has been awarded a grant for a new therapeutic garden to help people move on from the challenges they project, called Life Grows On, will see six alotments and a water feature installed in a former dog pen at the Sight Matters headquarters in Corrin Court, Onchan. Created in partnership with the Manx Deaf Society, Cruse Bereavement and the Alzheimers' Society, the project was awarded a grant of £21,385 from Manx Lottery spokesman Peter Marshall said the garden was for people to meet others and "grow things which symbolises moving on from whatever challenges they face". The garden would include features such as raised planters, tactile signage, and guided gardening sessions to make the space accessible for all. 'Much-needed' The funding would allow the charities to "create a much-needed therapeutic space where members of our community can come together, reflect, and experience the healing power of nature", Mr Marshall said. "Gardening offers so many benefits, and we're excited to provide an inclusive, accessible environment where people can nurture both plants and their own emotional wellbeing," he executive Cathryn Bradley said the project would provide a space for the various charities to grow what they wanted in their for the project, which it is hoped will be completed by the end of summer, was being undertaken by prison work parties. Unlike Sight Matters' Freedom Field, which required a fob to access, the space would be openly available for members of the charities at all times. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT: Sign language interpreter makes event 'inclusive'
Providing a British Sign Language interpreter for some Isle of Man TT races makes the event "inclusive", those behind the service have "Deaf TT", the service sees live captions for radio commentary provided on the event's website as well as British Sign Language interpreted coverage at a section of the grandstand during the final two days of racing. Launched in 2016 by the Manx Deaf Society, the initiative aims to make the event more accessible for those who cannot follow live spoken commentary. Chief executive Lucy Buxton said it enabled those with a hearing impairment to be on the "same playing field" as they were given the information as it happened. "If you have to rely on someone else to get that information you sometimes feel as though you are an afterthought," she the past, those who could not follow live coverage would rely on a summary of the race released in the evening, or would need to be told what had Buxton said as the TT was "so fast", as soon as someone explains what had just happened "they have missed the next thing".The service provided the "same access possibility, whether people choose to follow it or not", and meant that the TT "becomes quite an inclusive event", she continued. Ms Buxton said the idea came about following a trip to see a Formula One race in Italy with her husband when a lack of English commentary demonstrated what it was like not to be able to follow what was being service was developed after similar frustrations werE raised by the society's members in relation to the government now provides nine free seats at the Grandstand on both Friday and Saturday of race week, as well as organising the captions for commentary on the TT signed commentary is provided by a visiting British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter UK organisation place names and people's names were finger spelt in BSL, organisers had to create their own vocabulary for brevity due the fast-paced included Cronk y Voddy becoming "road jump jump" and May Hill in Ramsey turning into "house of the vampires" due to a gothic looking house on the corner, Ms Buxton said. Similarly signs were created for the riders who were often mentioned in commentary, such as John McGuinness who is now the sign for a interpretor for the event Carol Kyle said it was a "privilege to make the races accessible to those who live on the island or visit" for the said as the TT was a time trial, it could be "extremely challenging" explaining the person ahead on the road was not necessarily the person winning."But the enthusiasm of the commentators is very infectious, and hopefully I translate that enthusiasm, anticipation and speed so people get that feeling of the TT," she added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Awareness week aims to 'amplify deaf voices' on Isle of Man
A hearing loss charity has said its annual awareness week aims to "emphasis the importance in amplifying deaf voices".Deaf Awareness Week, which started on Monday, was first launched in 1993 and was designed to promote inclusion and understanding of some of the challenges the Isle of Man, there are about 13,000 people who face hearing loss. Chief executive of Manx Deaf Society Lucy Buxton said: "Hearing us is one of those things that if you can't hear what is going on around you, you can't necessarily contribute to the conversation." As hearing loss was a hidden disability, the awareness week helped to "bring it back into the forefront of people's minds", she said."It is all about how can we be a better, more welcoming, accommodating and compassionate society because you never know when you are going to lose your hearing," she added. Lesley Cullen from Port Erin, who faces hearing loss said she can find socialising hard and as she can only hear people when in one-to-one situation it can be "very lonely".She said: "A positive is I can't hear the tap dripping, storms at night or the clock ticking", adding: "I'm not distracted when I'm playing golf."But she said increasing the the number of hearing loops available in public places would make things better from her perspective."When someone is giving a talk the facilities should be improved for people with hearing loss so we're not left out," she added. Heather Hurt from Peel said her hearing had been deteriorating since she reached her 40s and as a result she started to use a hearing said while she had lost her confidence in social situations since experiencing hearing loss, she had "become more confident" in advocating for herself and others with a similar disability"."I would like more people to be aware of what it means when someone is wearing a sunflower lanyard", she said, referring to the initiative which identifies that a person has a hidden disability. Nigel Latham, from Douglas, who gradually lost his hearing said the biggest challenges he faced were isolation and missing out on sounds around such as people or said he wears a badge that says "I'm a lipreader, please face me", which was helpful for when he needs people to understand that he cannot hear them. Ballaugh resident Pam Ashcroft, who is deaf in one ear and has little hearing in the other, said it could be "exhausting constantly trying to figure out what someone is saying".In a group she said she is lost, and has struggled to hear cars so has walked out in front of them."A positive is I can take my hearing aids out and read a book when everyone else is watching the tv, and I don't get woken up in the night when the kids come in late", she she added that when someone raises their voice for her it does not help, as she needs the context of what is being discussed. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
