Every deaf child every day

Transcription

1 Every deaf child every day Our strategy for Updated December 2014 The National Deaf Children s Society

2 Our vision A world without barriers for every deaf child

3 About us The National Deaf Children s Society exists thanks to the commitment and foresight of a small group of parents who, in 1944, dedicated themselves to further in every way possible the provision of full modern education for all deaf children. From these modest beginnings, we have flourished into the organisation we are today: unique in working with and for thousands of deaf children and young people in the UK and millions more across the world. Parents remain central to the organisation and we are committed to ensuring that deaf children and young people receive the support they need to have the same opportunities as any other child. Today, our work is as vital as ever. We are still determined that deaf children and young people get the education they need to achieve, but we also provide broader advice, support and activities to boost self-esteem and emotional well-being, arming deaf children, young people and their parents with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions. We work to support... 45,000+ deaf children and young people in the UK 1,600 babies who are born deaf every year in the UK 20 million deaf children and young people worldwide Contents Our vision 2 About us 3 Context of this strategy 4 Our mission 5 Our values 6 We believe that... 7 Who we support 8 Our aims 11 Our objectives 12 How we will empower 13 How we will increase awareness 14 How we will influence and challenge 15 Delivering our plans 16 Measures of success 17 The impact we will have 18 Join us 19 3

4 Context of this strategy For almost 70 years, the National Deaf Children s Society has continued to be the only organisation in the UK and globally which provides the clear, unbiased and comprehensive information that deaf children, young people and their families need to make informed decisions about their lives and futures. However, the environment we work in has changed considerably since the 1940s. Our success in securing newborn hearing screening for every child in the UK has led to more deaf children being diagnosed earlier, and advances in technology pose new opportunities and challenges. As we develop our strategy, threatened reductions in government spending mean that we will need to keep crafting our plans as implications become clear. The social and political barriers that prevent deaf children and young people from achieving are immense. We have made enormous progress in removing some of these barriers and in mitigating the impact they have, but there is still a long way to go. In the UK, deaf children and young people continue to underachieve at school, compared with other children and young people. In developing countries, the lack of deaf awareness among communities and professionals means that many deaf children and young people can live in isolation, excluded from education and health services. In Every Deaf Child, Every Day: Our strategy for , we set out our plans for the next six years and the impact we will achieve. We say how we will work with you whether you are someone who will directly benefit from our work or a stakeholder who can help us maintain our momentum and advance our aims and aspirations. Our plans are targeted and they are ambitious and we make no apology for that. They are focused on both the UK and on countries across the world where the need is greatest and where we are able to make the greatest impact. This strategy covers the period and will be reviewed in 2014 to ensure it remains fit for purpose. Susan Daniels OBE Chief Executive 4

5 Our mission To remove the barriers to the achievement of deaf children throughout the world 5

6 Our values Change-focused Everything we do is targeted to bring us closer to our mission of a world without barriers for every deaf child. Whether challenging key decision makers or working collaboratively with other organisations, Accountable As a membership organisation, we are accountable for everything we do, both to our members and to the deaf children and young people we are here to serve. we will adopt whatever approach is required to achieve our mission. Empowering We believe that with the right support, deaf children can do anything other children can do. We empower deaf children, young people and their families to make informed choices and influence decisions affecting them. This approach is carried through into everything we do. Inclusive We aim to support all deaf children and young people, but put particular focus on those who most need our support. This includes deaf children from families in poverty, those with additional complex needs and those from a black and minority ethnic background. 6

7 We believe that... Deaf children can do anything other children can do, given early diagnosis and the right support from the start. Deaf children should be involved in decisions which affect them at as early an age as possible. Families are the most important influence on deaf children and young people, and need clear, balanced information to make informed choices. Effective language and communication skills lie at the heart of deaf children and young people s social, emotional and intellectual development. Deaf children should be valued by society and have the same opportunities as any other child. 7

8 Who we support We support all deaf children and young people, regardless of their level of deafness, how they communicate or what technical aids they use. Right from birth through to independence, we provide practical and emotional support to ensure they are valued and included by society and have the same opportunities as any other child. From ages 19 to 25, we signpost deaf young people towards information about learning and training and provide them with volunteering opportunities. In the early years of a child s development, this support will be directed primarily through the parents. As the child gets older, we will increasingly shift to working directly with deaf children and young people themselves. We will continue to focus our support on those children and young people who are most in need, including those from a disadvantaged background, those from black and minority ethnic communities and those who have additional complex needs. In order to achieve our mission we will support and work with deaf children and young people themselves, with their parents and families, and the professionals and decision makers who are in regular contact with them. 8

9 Deaf children and young people It s been a brilliant experience. Thank you for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime it s one I ll never forget. I have grown in confidence and now know I can set out and achieve anything Deaf young person Deaf children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. From birth, up to the age of independence, we provide a huge range of support to help them build confidence, learn new skills and get the information and advice they need to achieve. We recently held the largest ever consultation with deaf children and young people and asked how we could best support them. Their responses informed our strategic priorities and are enabling us to design services to meet their needs, such as an interactive website which reduces the isolation of deaf children and young people by providing them with a place to meet and socialise. Initiatives such as this and a new Youth Advisory Board mean that we will increasingly be guided by what deaf children and young people themselves say they need. Parents, families and carers Through the NDCS publications and website we ve had so much help coming to terms with Phoebe s deafness and making sure that it isn t a barrier to her life Parent of a deaf child We know that the family is the most important influence on a deaf child or young person s ability to achieve. We are proud of our free membership scheme, which provides the unbiased information that parents, families and carers in the UK and internationally desperately need to confidently make informed choices that best help their child. We are determined to develop this further, to ensure we provide targeted, timely information that supports the family at every stage of a deaf child or young person s life. 9

10 Professionals Your publications have gone from good to excellent and have been very useful to me in my work for handing out to parents, staff and others who come into contact with deaf children Teacher of the deaf Professionals refers to people who work regularly with deaf children and young people, including education, health, audiology and social care professionals. We provide guidance and support to ensure that professionals have the knowledge and skills that are so vital to help deaf children and young people achieve. Decision makers There are certain organisations here such as... the National Deaf Children s Society, which have over the years impressed me by their dedication and commitment to doing the best for children and young people. Rt hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education It s vital that decision makers, in the UK and internationally, understand the needs of deaf children and young people. We lobby, campaign and build relationships with local authorities, MPs and government departments to make sure that deaf children and young people are a priority. International Since the implementation of the Deaf Child Worldwide project, the deaf children go to school like any other children Project leader It s estimated that there are 20 million deaf children worldwide and through our international development arm Deaf Child Worldwide we are committed to creating a world without barriers for them. Our work in developing countries such as India and Uganda includes training community health workers to improve their ability to work effectively with deaf children and young people, and giving parents free sign language classes to help them communicate with their deaf child. We also ensure that deaf children and young people have knowledge about sexual health and emotional well-being to support them into adulthood. 10

11 Our aims Deaf children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. We will achieve our mission through three strategic aims: Empowering Empowering deaf children, young people and their families to determine what happens in their lives and shape the services they receive Increasing awareness Increasing awareness of the support deaf children and young people need to achieve and challenging social attitudes which prevent them achieving Influencing and challenging Influencing and challenging key decision makers to make deaf children and young people a political priority 11

12 Our objectives We will pursue the following objectives to achieve each aim: Empowering To improve the support received by deaf children and young people to develop language and communication skills To increase the ability of deaf children and young people and their families to make informed choices Increasing awareness To increase the availability of high quality support for deaf children and young people from public services To increase opportunities for deaf children and young people to take part in society Influencing and challenging To ensure that deaf children and young people are represented in decision-making that affects them Underpinning all of our aims: To ensure that NDCS develops to meet the changing needs of deaf children and young people 12

13 How we will empower... Family officers: our team of family officers support families with deaf children and young people throughout the UK Arts, sports and leisure activities: building deaf children and young people s confidence and self esteem Technology loans: the chance to test drive new equipment empowers parents to advocate for their child s needs Information and advice: with our helpline, education and benefits advisors and online forum, parents of deaf children are never alone Language and communication training: for parents in developing countries Family events: our day and residential events provide a lifeline to parents who can share experiences and learn how to confidently support their deaf child Newsletters: give families the right information at the right time in their child s development buzz.org.uk: our website for deaf children and young people, where they can support each other and find out about issues affecting them Empower Empowerment underpins everything we do. In a world that doesn t yet meet the needs of deaf children and young people, we re here to ensure that whatever decisions parents, families, deaf children and young people need to make about their future, we provide the clear, relevant and unbiased advice and support they need to make fully informed decisions. Alongside this, our events for deaf children and young people build self-esteem and confidence, helping them realise they can do anything other children and young people can do. 13

14 How we will increase awareness... Training: for parents and professionals both in the UK and abroad to help them meet the needs of deaf children and young people Listening Bus: raising awareness and taking advice and equipment into schools and communities across the UK Publications and activities: to promote best practice Additional complex needs: events and newsletters plus work with other organisations to support parents whose children have additional needs as well as being deaf Case studies: to help bring deaf children and young people s needs and potential to life Promote accessibility and inclusion: our Me2 project works with sports, arts and social groups around the country to ensure that deaf children and young people can be included Increase awareness Increasing awareness of the support deaf children and young people need is critical to enable them to achieve and attain the same as other children and young people. In the UK, deaf children are 42% less likely to achieve good grades at school, even though deafness is not a learning disability. We are determined that this will change. We will promote best practice, raise expectations and ensure that all deaf children and young people, including those with additional needs, get the help and support they need to achieve and play a full part in their community. 14

15 How we will influence and challenge... Monitor and shape key policies: which affect deaf children and young people Support parents networks in UK and developing countries: by listening to what deaf children, young people and their families say they need and bringing people together to share ideas, learn from each other and effect real change Campaign to protect and improve public services: ensure we hold on to the gains we have made and continue to remove barriers that prevent deaf children and young people from achieving Build links with key UK and international stakeholders: to help us achieve more through alliances with all stakeholders working for deaf children and young people Research: to inform policy and practice Grow and develop our campaign network: to ensure that the needs of deaf children and young people are not ignored Influence and challenge Our focus is on change and everything we do brings us closer to realising our mission of a world without barriers for every deaf child. Locally, nationally and internationally we will influence and challenge key decision makers to make deaf children and young people a political priority. As well as acting ourselves, we will support parents, families and deaf children and young people to stand up for their rights and build networks with key stakeholders to promote our cause. 15

16 Delivering our plans These plans are targeted but they are also ambitious. We would not be able to carry out any of our work to help deaf children and young people achieve their full potential without the fantastic support of our staff, volunteers, campaigners, supporters and army of volunteer fundraisers. To deliver these plans over the next six years will require the continued dedication of our friends, effective and reliable resources, and financial support. To achieve our plans we will: raise a net income of 10.4m in 2011/12 rising to 14.5m by 2016/17 develop and embed systems to capture and share learning to create a cycle of improvement provide our staff and volunteers with the support and training they need to use their skills to deliver this strategy provide the buildings and infrastructure needed to deliver the strategy develop and implement long term communications plans which help meet the strategy. 16

17 Measures of success Our measures of success for these plans are built around our vision of a world without barriers for every deaf child. We will track our progress by measuring the impact of our services on deaf children, young people and their families and statistics relating to the attainment of deaf children and young people. The key performance criteria below* will ensure that we are achieving our three aims of empowering, raising awareness, and influencing and challenging in the UK and abroad. % of families helped to make informed choices % of families who are more confident about parenting a deaf child or young person % of deaf children and young people who are more confident % of families who are more confident advocating for their deaf child s needs/rights International no. of deaf children and young people becoming more independent within their communities % of Year 11 pupils gaining 5 A C GCSEs (including English and Maths)** % of families who have raised expectations of deaf children and young people % of deaf children and young people more involved in their communities/ mainstream activities % of families who are involved in planning of services % of deaf pupils gaining Level 4 English % of deaf pupils gaining Level 4 numeracy No. of families directly benefiting from NDCS International no. of families who have received training on language/communication/deaf awareness No. of family/professional members No. of helpline enquiries No. of website visitors Supporter income Charitable spend * This list is part of a wider set of KPIs which will be reviewed by the management team ** Refers to England and Wales. Comparable data is not currently available for Scotland and N. Ireland 17

18 The impact we will have We will know that we are having a positive impact on the lives of deaf children, young people and their families when, by 2017: Deaf children and young people are achieving and attaining I recently won student of the year for coping so well as a disabled person in a mainstream college of 7,000 students. I believe that almost anyone can do almost anything some people just need a little more help than others Dean, 19 years old Deaf children and young people have positive self-esteem, a strong peer group and access to a wider emotional support network NDCS events give me a chance to meet other deaf children and share our thoughts whilst having fun Archie, 10 years old Deaf children and young people can make choices and influence decisions that affect their lives, communities and services they use At first I felt nervous and scared. The first interview was very hard but then the second and third were better. The MPs gave good answers and showed they had really thought about the issues Karen, 14 years old, on interviewing MPs about how they would make deaf children a political priority 18

19 Join us If you re interested in our strategic plans for the next six years, chances are you re already part of the NDCS family. But a lot of our members and supporters are involved with us in more ways than one. Below, we ve outlined some of the ways you can join us and help us work towards creating a world without barriers for every deaf child. Benefit from our resources As a membership organisation, we are able to constantly monitor and adapt our activities and resources to ensure that they meet the needs of our audiences. Whether you are a professional, parent or organisation that works with deaf children and young people, our member programme is free to join and instantly beneficial. > Use our Freephone Helpline, download our award-winning publications and join our events by signing up at Raise funds for us In addition to the many companies, trusts and statutory fundraisers who generously support us, there is an army of individual supporters committed to helping deaf children and young people to achieve. 95% of our work with deaf children and young people is funded by the public, which makes support from people like you absolutely vital. Some people choose to donate a small amount every month, some run marathons for us or jump out of planes, others leave a legacy to NDCS in their will to help deaf children and young people in the future. Whatever your preferred method of giving, every penny counts. > Call or visit to find out more. Campaign with us Whether you have a personal interest in deafness or simply believe in equal opportunities, join our campaign network and get your voice heard about issues affecting deaf children and young people. Our 2,000-strong network is going from strength to strength, providing a variety of ways to get involved, from signing e-petitions to mobilising campaigners. > Join us at 19

20 NDCS is the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. NDCS Freephone Helpline: (voice and text) helpline@ndcs.org.uk Published by the National Deaf Children s Society NDCS December Paul Street, London EC2A 4LS Tel: (voice and text) Fax: NDCS is a registered charity in England and Wales no and in Scotland no. SC This publication can be requested in large print, in Braille and on audio CD. Illustrations by John Paul Early Licensed for use by NDCS until 2020