Play and leisure

The British Deaf Sports Council promotes sports and leisure opportunities for deaf people through regional clubs, national and international championships (including Deaflympics, which are recognised by the OIC and run under IOC auspices).

BDSC Head Office
49 Fonnerau Road
Ipswich
IP1 3JN
Tel/text: 01473 252 210
Fax: 01268 510 621
Web: www.britishdeafsportscouncil.org.uk

Specialise in providing UK and worldwide holidays for disabled people, the elderly and slow walkers.

Chalfont House
4 Providence Road
West Drayton
Middlese
UB7 8HJ
Tel: 01895 459 540
Fax: 01895 459 549
Email: holidays@chalfont-line.co.uk
Web: www.chalfont-line.co.uk

Produce a wide range of videos, including children's stories, educational and reference material, covering many subjects, in sign language and subtitles. Available from Forest Bookshop.

Email: deafbooks@forestbooks.com
Web: www.forestbookshop.com
 

Chicken Shed has opened up the performing arts to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Over 20 major musicals, as well as ballets, mime and dance have been produced.

Chase Side
Southgate
London
N14 4PE
Tel: 020 8351 6161
Text: 18001 020 8292 9222 (Typetalk)
Email: info@chickenshed.org.uk
Web: www.chickenshed.org.uk

The CEA advocates on behalf of the UK cinema sector at international, national, regional and local level.

This includes lobbying and working with Government at all levels, with other sectors of the film industry, particularly distribution, as well as working with others to promote the value of cinema to the wider public.

The organisation has also developed a national concessionary card for UK cinemas in order to allow people with disabilities to obtain one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema. 

Cinema Exhibitors' Association Ltd
22 Golden Square
London
W1F 9JW
Tel: 0207 734 9551
Fax: 0207 734 6147
Web: www.cinemauk.org.uk

Common Ground is an entirely Deaf-led Contemporary Dance company who provide sign dance workshops and performances for Deaf and hearing participants and audiences of any age, ethnicity, ability or social background. Our aim is to break down barriers and bring together participants from all backgrounds to create a cultural fusion in dance.

4th Floor
Gostin Building
32-36 Hanover Street
Liverpool
L1 4LN
Tel: 0151 707 8033
Text: 0151 707 8380
Fax: 0151 707 8033
Email: info@signdance.com
Web: www.signdance.com

DeafMail is UK non-profit making, email-orientated deaf consumer organisation and social club.

Email: contact@deafmail.org.uk
Web: www.deafmail.org.uk

Graeae is a national touring company of people with physical and sensory impairments. As well as touring nationally and internationally with professional theatre for adults and young people, the company produces educational and training initiatives for disabled people.

LVS Resource Centre
356 Holloway Road
LONDON
N7 6PA
Tel: 020 7700 2455
Fax: 020 7609 7324
Minicom: 020 7700 8184
Email: info@graeae.org
Web: www.graeae.org

Information service for disabled people and carers wishing to take a holiday break.

Tourism for All
The Hawkins Suite
Enham Place
Andover
SP11 6JS
Tel: 0845 124 9971 (info); 0845 124 9974 (admin)
Text: 0845 124 9976
Fax: 0845 124 9972
Email: info@tourismforall.org.uk
Web: www.holidaycare.org.uk

ITV's Signed Stories website makes hundreds of children’s stories accessible in British Sign Language (BSL) as well as by using text, pictures, animation and sound.

Web: www.signedstories.com

Specialises in introducing young audiences to the delights of live theatre, combining mime, dance, song, clowning, puppets, Commedia Dell Arte and integrated BSL. Participate in educational and community theatre.

173 Hartington Road
Brighton
East Sussex
BN2 3PA
Tel: 01273 692 552
Fax: 01273 692 552
Email: krazykattheatre@ntlworld.com
Web: www.krazykattheatre.co.uk

Regional member of the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS). Can provide information on deaf sports and other sporting activities, including coaching and training and competition opportunities.

Unit 2B07
London Southbank University
Technopark
90 London Road
SE1 6LN
Tel: 020 7717 1699
Email: info@londonsportforum.org.uk
Web: www.londonsportsforum.org.uk

Helps deaf people access music and performing arts through workshops, schools projects, talks and signed theatre performances. Publications and regional contacts available.

The Media Centre
7 Northumberland Street
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD1 1RL
Tel: 01484 483 115
Text: 01484 483 117
Fax: 01484 483 116
Email: infor@matd.org.uk
Web:  www.matd.org.uk

The organisation's mission is to create and support high quality play opportunities throughout the UK. A toy library is a community resource for play which may include equipment, toys for loan, dedicated space and skilled staff. Leisure libraries provide recreational facilities for adults with learning difficulties and their families.

1A Harwood Street
London
NW1 8DN
Tel: 020 7428 2280
Fax: 020 7428 2281
Web: www.natll.org.uk

The Access London Theatre section of this theatre news and listings website includes information about forthcoming London theatre shows with BSL-interpreted or captioned performances.

Web: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/london_shows/assisted

Shape is a charity providing access to the arts for disabled and elderly people. Has a deaf arts department and magazine "Deaf Arts UK", education and training department, and ticket scheme that provides discounted tickets in London.

Shape
Deane Horse Studios
27 Greenwood Place
London
NW5 1LB
Tel: 0845 521 3457
Text: 020 7424 7368
Fax: 0845 521 3458
Web: www.shapearts.org.uk

Offer information about BSL interpreted and captioned theatre performances around the country. Offer advice and training to theatre companies.

SPIT
6 Thirlmere Drive
Lymm
Cheshire
UK
WA13 9PE
Tel: 01925 754231
Fax: 01925 757115
Mobile/SMS: 07860 119299
Textphone: 01925 757115
Email: ian@spit.org.uk
Web:  www.spit.org.uk

Provides captioning (subtitles) to theatres that want to make their productions accessible to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing adults and children.

STAGETEXT
First Floor
54 Commercial Street
London
E1 6LT
Tel: 020 7377 0540 
Textphone: 020 7247 7801 
Fax: 020 7247 5622
Email: enquiries@stagetext.org
Web: www.stagetext.org

Baby Signing by TalkFirst
TalkFirst baby signing classes are fun and lively. Come and learn to sign with your baby. Meet Dexter puppet and all his friends.  Classes include a mix of themed BSL signs, rhymes, music, songs and games which have been specially developed to appeal to all babies (deaf or hearing) from 0 -30 months. Classes are an intimate affair; numbers are strictly limited per class. TalkFirst is No. 1 for quality, education and fun!

TalkFirst Baby Signing Ltd
Head Office
Lower Acre
Todmorden Rd
Bacup
Lancs
OL13 9EB
T: 01706 872816
F: 01706 872131
Email: headoffice@talkfirst.net
Web: www.talkfirst.net

Words, Signs & Vibes is an integrated project for deaf and hearing young people aged 13 to 18 years old. The organisation runs a weekly Youth Theatre at The Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham on Saturdays, with performances twice a year. In addition, Words, Signs & Vibes also organises residential drama programmes.

Words, Signs & Vibes
PO Box 5362
Walsall
WS1 9HJ

Tel/text: 01922 615 835
SMS: 07515 939 806
Email: info@wordssignsvibes.co.uk
Web: www.wordssignsvibes.co.uk