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CDYP - RISK OF CLOSURE
CHILD Deaf Youth Project is a charitable organisation operating for over ten years. The service it provides is unique within the Tees Valley area and meets the needs of Deaf and hard of hearing children and young people aged 5 –25 years.
This vital service has now hit a funding crisis, which places it at great risk of possible closure. If core funding cannot be secured soon over 60 children and young people could be left disadvantaged and excluded with no-where to go.
CDYP helps to combat isolation, prejudice and discrimination by offering social and educational activities appropriate to their needs. There are no other local provisions for Deaf children and young people in the area. It also provides language support to hearing children and young people with severe speech impairments, whose only means of communication is through sign language.
Since the closure of Deaf schools, many children travel to special units within mainstream settings located outside of their community. They sometimes live miles away from their school friends and have little or no opportunity to use their preferred method of communication with other children that live near to them. Consequently, they feel isolated and socially excluded in their own neighbourhoods.
The culture, language and life experience of Deaf children are very different to those of hearing youngsters and, as with other minority groups, prejudice and discrimination occurs. This level of social exclusion can have damaging and long term affects on these children including anxiety, frustration, depression, psychological and social problems. CDYP exists to combat these issues and improve the quality of life for Deaf children.
Whilst it is accepted that there are many youth services within Tees Valley, it is difficult for Deaf children and young people to access them due to their specific communication needs. Similarly, there are Deaf clubs throughout the region but none include a Youth Service. Consequently, the service we provide is unique within the Tees Valley area and meets an identified gap in current service provision. Members have reported that since joining CDYP they feel good about themselves, have met new friends, have improved behaviour, can interact easier with others and generally enjoy everyday life more.
If you can offer support, we would like to hear from you. Please contact Jacqueline Barnes-Jones on: 01642 852165 or email: j.barnesjones@cdyp.co.uk
Youngsters are using their sign language skills to help hearing impaired young people using the Internet.
The youngsters appear on a new website for the Child Deaf Youth Project, a scheme in Middlesbrough which helps build the confidence and self-esteem of hearing impaired children.
Youth worker Jacqueline Barnes-Jones, 30, hopes the youngsters' videos on the website www.cdyp.co.uk will attract new members.
It is also geared towards helping hearing impaired people who use British Sign Language as their first language.
Jacqueline, from Darlington, said: "A foreign person might learn English but they are never quite as comfortable with that as opposed to their own language."
She said: "Some deaf people use British Sign Language as their first language so the website includes young people who sign on screen.
"They are young people who have been a part of this project and their work will ensure users have full access to all the information.
"We currently have around 70 young people involved in the project but I believe there are many more deaf and hard-of-hearing youngsters across the Tees Valley who could benefit from this."
The website has been designed and created for free by Middlesbrough firm Calm Asylum.
The Child Deaf Youth Project started in 1996 and helps young people aged five to 25.
The project has also been boosted by a recent grant of £130,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.
Children in Need have also funded a youth worker to help at the project for the next three years.
* Any young deaf people aged five to 25 who would like more information can call 01642 852165 or send an e-mail to: j.barnesjones@cdyp.co.uk