Join our Audience Panel

We're passionate about making every moment count for deaf children and young people. 

To achieve this, we want to make sure that every deaf child, family member and professional has access to the best services possible. And we’d like your help.

As a member of our Audience Panel, you'll help to design, develop and test our services, resources, and campaigns to make sure they’re the best they can be.

We’re looking for the following people to join our Audience Panel:

• Parents, grandparents and carers of deaf children and young people.
• Professionals working with deaf children and young people (for example, audiologists, Teachers of the Deaf, teaching assistants, early years practitioners, communication support workers, social workers and support workers).
• People who volunteer with the National Deaf Children’s Society.
• Donors to the National Deaf Children’s Society.
• People who campaign with or on behalf of the National Deaf Children’s Society.

You’ll get the chance to take part in involvement opportunities, which will help us make sure our services provide value to deaf children, their families, and professionals. 

You may get invited to do this in the following ways: 

• Complete an online survey. 
• Test a digital product, like our website or app. 
• Take part in a focus group (online or in person).
• Complete a one-to-one interview (online or in person). 

If you need communication support, we can provide this for you. 

For example, a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, a spoken language interpreter or a palantypist. 

People have different motivations for getting involved, it could be to share lived experiences or to give feedback on services they have or will use. 

It can give you a real sense of empowerment to use your experience to make a positive difference, and meet people with similar experiences.

Your feedback and voice are valuable to us. Your involvement and sharing your lived experience or professional expertise can help us shape our services and resources for people like you, deaf children and young people, or professionals.

Each time you take part in an Audience Panel opportunity (for up to two hours), we’ll offer you a £25 voucher to say thank you. 

If you’d like a record of your involvement in a particular project, please get in touch.

Most online focus groups last one and a half hours maximum, while a one-to-one interview lasts around one hour. 

We’ll always let you know in advance how much time you need to commit.

Completing a survey can be done in your own time but should take no longer than one hour.

None of our opportunities should be longer than two hours.

Focus groups and one-to-one interviews usually take place online, for example, on Zoom or Microsoft Teams. 

These sessions usually take place in the evening, though one-to-one conversations can be arranged for a time that suits you.

Occasionally, you could be invited to attend an in-person meeting. We’ll cover the cost of any expenses, such as travel.

If you have any questions, get in touch with our team by emailing audiencepanel@ndcs.org.uk.