Deaf Links has evolved from direct demand from deaf people for an organisation that truly meets their needs and involves them in all aspects of service planning and development. The staff, volunteers and trustees have either personal experience of deafness or have worked with deaf people in successful service provision for deaf people though the voluntary sector for many years. These people have a wide experience of setting up services, monitoring and evaluating them to the satisfaction of major funders and trusts, successfully managing large yearly budgets and exceeding expected targets.

What we do:

• Promote the independence and rights of Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and deafblind people
• Provide training across a wide range of deaf subjects to service providers, organisations and communities
• Provide independent volunteer advocates to make sure deaf people have their voice heard in decisions and services that affect them
• Provide information, advice and support to deaf people and any services deaf people use
• Develop social enterprise
• Enhance employment opportunities for deaf people and volunteers

Training:
Deaf Links provides nationally recognised, accredited training courses, covering Deaf and Deafblind Awareness, and Communication Tactics with Deaf People and British Sign Language. Click below for further details.

• Deaf and Deafblind Awareness Training
• British Sign Language
• Lipreading Classes - in the planning process - watch this space!

Advocacy:
Deaf Advocacy is about deaf people having the opportunity and the power to represent their own needs, views and choices. It is about having a direct influence on decisions that may affect their lives. It is about having the access to information that will enable deaf people to make informed choices and above all to lead safe and fulfilling lives.

Deaf Links is developing its advocacy service which provides 1:1 support to isolated deaf people. The advocacy service will support, enable and empower deaf people through trained advocates also improving their mental health and wellbeing by reducing social isolation, exclusion and discrimination deaf people experience from the stigma attached to deafness and the ensuing extreme communication difficulties.

Volunteers
Deaf Links offers volunteering opportunities for members of the community, and working closely with the Volunteer Centres in Dundee, Angus and Perthshire, we have been able to put into operation good practice standards, policies and procedures. This provides our volunteer befrienders with quality volunteering experiences, support, supervision, nationally recognised qualifications, being active members of their communities and encourages lifelong learning. Our volunteering opportunities includes advocacy, reception work, administration, serving in our cafe, cleaning services, youth club helpers, driving and support works. Download the volunteer form.

Scottish Charity No.SC040223

Registered Company Limited by Guarantee No. SC353562.

In partnership with