South & South East England local groups

For contact details of your local group, contact our helpline team.

"We offer support, advice and information to parents, carers and others interested in helping deaf children

"The group originated as the East Sussex Deaf Children’s Society which included Brighton and Hove. Since Brighton and Hove became a Unitary Authority, East Sussex Deaf Children’s Society has continued to serve the people of East Sussex. We cover East Sussex and surrounding towns, such as Tunbridge Wells, north of the county and have members from Brighton and as far west as Portslade.

"Our Committee is made up of parents of deaf children and professionals who have much to offer, gained through experience and professional knowledge. Some Committee members have remained dedicated to supporting the members and the group long after their own deaf children have outgrown the Society.

"We try to accommodate members in different areas of the county, by holding events at venues around the county, from Hastings to Brighton, and up to Wadhurst.

"We offer a range of events and activities in an attempt to meet the needs of all the families and the differing ages of children, to improve communication skills and build confidence.

"We support all means of communication, signing and oral.

"We aim to provide challenging and exciting events for our young people, such as Rock climbing at the Bowles Centre, Chessington Theme Park.

"A ‘Family Fun Day’ hosted by one of our member families has been very successful and has become an annual event.

"We have recently begun joint activities with East Sussex Youth Group for the Deaf, which is also proving very successful.

"Aims of the group

• To bring families with deaf children together to support each other
• To maximise opportunities for deaf and hearing people to come together and
• To fulfil their potential
• To raise local awareness of the needs of deaf children
• To provide a local resource for members and professionals"

For more information: 

Contact:
Sian Morris - Secretary
Phone: 01323 735680
Email: sian.morris@eastsussex.gov.uk

We do not currently have any information about this group. For further information, or if you are from this society, please contact NDCS Membership Services by calling 020 7014 1140 or emailing louise.halvey@ndcs.org.uk

"Kent Deaf Children's Society is an organisation run mainly by the families of deaf children in Kent. We organise fun social events for families enabling both the deaf children, siblings and their families to mix with others in a similar situation outside of a school environment.  Our annual events include our Big BBQ at the RSDCM in Margate, Easter family day out to a local Zoo, Christmas trip to a signed pantomime and much more.

"We are run by a group of dedicated people who work with local authorities, social services, local education authorities and national health trusts to improve and adapt services for deaf children for the benefit of our members and their families.

"At the moment we have a membership of 80 families, across Kent and Medway. Most of our events are subsidised and are open to all KDCS members.

"Our current activities also include a Sibling Signing group to encourage children with a Deaf brother or sister to sign up BSL level 1. "

Contact Details

Website: www.kentdcs.org.uk

"As a group Milton Keynes DCS:

• Supports families of newly diagnosed children
• Gives information, advice and support on a wide range of issues including education, audiology, communication and benefits
• Organises fundraising events for local deaf children
• Organises social events for deaf children and their families (parties, trips, coffee mornings)"

''One of the most important roles of ODCS is to provide opportunities for families to meet and help each other.  Children and young people benefit from meeting other deaf people their own age and parents benefit from meeting other parents who have similar experiences.  If you are new to the area, have a newly diagnosed child, are thinking of moving to the area or even are only just realising the importance of links with peers who have a hearing loss, please get in touch with us.  We'd be very happy to meet up, e-mail or talk on the phone.

We hold events throughout the year, but the highlights are the Summer Garden Party and the Christmas Party. 

For more information please email -

Mrs Celia Warde-Aldam - Secretary

Email: mcjlwa2@btinternet.com

We are a small group that run activities for families in South Buckinghamshire.

Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about our activities:

"South East Berkshire Deaf Children's Society is run by and for the families of deaf children in Windsor, Maidenhead, Bracknell and Slough.

"Our activities fall into 4 main areas:

• Social activities - Every year we organise several events such the Christmas Party, Summer BBQ, Easter Egg Hunt etc. These are in addition to monthly sessions at Thames Valley Adventure Playground (TVAP) in Maidenhead.
• Fundraising - there are 4 street collections each year and every 2 years we try and hold a big fun event such as a sponsored walk or cycle ride.
• Campaigning - we lobby the local authorities to maintain and improve services and facilities for deaf children and their families in the area.
• Provision of equipment - we can provide gifts of equipment to help deaf children lead independent lives.

"The Society and its events are run by a committee of 12-13 members which meets 10 times a year to make decisions and organise events. There is an AGM annually which all members are welcome (and encouraged!) to attend.

"We are always looking for ideas and input from all members so feel free to contact a committee member with any suggestions for events or queries about equipment, fundraising or if you have any issues you need help with."

For more information please contact:

Fiona Barker - Secretary
Email: fiona.barker@berkshire.nhs.uk
Phone: 01344 623560

Registered Charity No 1041006

"Originally called Southampton Deaf Children's Society, the group has now been helping deaf children and their families for over 35 years.  We now cover the whole of South Hampshire. 

"We aim to

• Offer support to all families with deaf children, irrespective of the level of deafness or method of communication.
• Provide social activities where deaf children and their families can meet with each other.
• Ensure that families of deaf children have access to information about education, technology and services.
• Campaign for the rights of deaf children.

"We organise trips and get-togethers to enable deaf children, their siblings and parents (and anybody else who is involved with the deaf child) to meet and enjoy days out.  We have recently had an Easter egg hunt and a skittles evening, both of which are becoming annual events along with our Christmas party and trip to the pantomime."

Please get in touch with us to find out more:

Chairperson, Anna Smith tel: 02380 421860

Secretary, Tracey Pettit tel: 02380 488600

Registered charity number 231401.

"There are around 1,000 Deaf children and young people in Surrey. Just under 500 of these use hearing aids or cochlear implants. The majority of Deaf children are educated in mainstream schools along with their hearing peers.  100 young Deaf people attend further and higher education colleges.

"We organise a number of monthly events for deaf children, young people and their families.  These are:

• Deaf Children and Young People Club - this is a monthly event for deaf children and teenagers and their siblings (ages 6 and up) and includes such activities as laser quest, bowling, indoor climbing and BSL interpreted/subtitled cinema.

• Under Fives Group - this is a monthly event for deaf children and their families and includes such activities as easter egg hunts, sing and sign sessions, barbecues and farm visits.

• Family Signing - this is a monthly event, during term times, that is open to all society members and their families.  We provide classes from primary to adult, following a modified BSL Level One curriculum, with qualified BSL tutors for the adult classes.  We also provide creche facilities.
  

"We also offer an annual Summer Fun Day, Christmas Party and other special events.

"Membership of the SDCS is £12 per family for a year."
 
For more information please contact:

Michal Ostrowski - mostrowski@ntlworld.com

or

Lynn Matthews -  lynn.matthews1@ntlworld.com