What is a local group?

Local groups are all very different. Some groups have dozens of members, paid staff and a permanent office. Other groups are very informal and meet occasionally for tea, coffee and a chat. Most local groups are somewhere in between; they meet regularly throughout the year and organise occasional activities for deaf children and their families.

The kinds of activities that local groups organise vary widely and reflect the interests of the group's members. Most local groups organise social activities for children (like parties or trips to local attractions), information evenings or talks on childhood deafness for parents, and some fundraising events for the whole family. Get in touch with your nearest group to find out what they usually get up to!

All local groups are run by a committee of volunteers. These are usually parents of deaf children, working with NDCS staff and local professionals to support other families in their area. The NDCS Membership and Local Groups Team supports volunteers who run local deaf children's societies by:

• offering information and advice on how to run a family support group
• giving administrative support
• giving local groups the chance to apply for diamond grant funding from NDCS.

Although NDCS works closely with local groups, each group is independent and organises its own social activities and fundraising events.

To get in touch with your nearest local deaf children's society, call our Freephone Helpline on 0808 800 8880 (voice and text) or use our map to find your closest group.