South & South East England

The South East England region covers Berks, Bucks, Oxford, Surrey, Hampshire, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

Our Family Officer for South East England is Katie Haylock (covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bracknell Forest, Milton Keynes, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham).

"My background in deaf studies and audiology means I’m aware of the issues facing families of deaf children and I’m committed to making a real difference in my designated areas.

"My role includes providing information and advice in relation to education, benefits, communication and other issues relating to childhood deafness. I’m also responsible for raising awareness of NDCS services, membership and support among families, young deaf people and professionals.

"I will be working closely with professionals involved in supporting families of deaf children and I will be aiming to develop and maintain strong links with all of my NDCS-affiliated local groups."

Telephone: 0808 800 8880
Textphone: 0808 800 8880
Fax: 020 7251 5020
Email: helpline@ndcs.org.uk  

Our Family Officer for the South East Coastal Region is Heather Fletcher (covering East and West Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight).

“I work full time as the Family Officer for the counties along the south coast of England and have a good central base in Hastings.

“I started this role at the end of August 2007, but already had a wide range of experience and knowledge of NDCS, childhood deafness and the kind of support families require from the nine years I spent working on the NDCS Listening Bus as Roadshow Coordinator.

“I left NDCS in 2005 and had a range of marketing roles but am really pleased to be back working with the organisation, with families and deaf children.

“My role is a varied one but the main areas are:

• supporting families/carers in the region (by phone, email or with a home visit);
• informing families of services and local support groups in their area;
• providing information, advice and support, particularly in the areas of diagnosis, benefits and education;
• empowering families and young deaf people to make the right choices for themselves; and
• promoting NDCS policies and services to professionals throughout the region.
  

Our Family Officer for the Kent and Essex region is Lisa Shepherd (covering Kent, Essex, Medway, Southend on Sea and Thurrock).

“I started this role in September 2008, but already had a wide range of experience and knowledge of the Deaf community and the challenges that d/Deaf people face after working with deaf adults, in a variety of settings for the past eight years, with a good general knowledge of mental health issues.

"A little bit about me? Well, I am deaf myself. I was diagnosed at the age of eight and it has been a progressive loss. However, I look on the bright side, it’s not: My hearing has got worse, it’s more like My deafness has got better.

"I have a personal understanding of the barriers that deaf children/adults face and I am determined to work towards change and making sure families receive the support that they are entitled to.“

Telephone: 0808 800 8880
Textphone: 0808 800 8880
Fax: 020 7251 5020
Email: helpline@ndcs.org.uk

Local deaf children's societies are run by parents and carers of deaf children, working together with local health and education professionals. They give emotional and social support to families with deaf children, and give deaf children the chance to meet outside of school.

Our What's on section lists events, family days, signed and interpreted performances, and much more.

There is a team of regional directors whose main roles are to influence key decision makers in local authorities and health services to ensure education, health, social care and other public services meet the needs of deaf children.