LDC - Employment and Welfare Service (360G-SCVO-a0gb00000127f8sAAA)

This funding will enable this vital service to continue to support the Deaf Community. By encouraging the Deaf Community to access employment opportunities it in turn has a positive impact on their mental health. Some Deaf people can go for days without being able to communicate with anyone. The increase in the job club to two days encourages the Deaf population to move from the welfare system and into employment thus combating poverty. By increasing the service we are giving the Deaf community somewhere to go to chat in their own language. It has been proven that social communication can have a dramatic impact on reducing the occurrence of Dementia. Our expectation is that we will have 5-10 people attending on a weekly basis. Although the numbers will fluctuate as we gain employment for more people. This funding will enable us to develop a presentation that we can take to local businesses to raise awareness about legislation, financial support and break down barriers and inequality. If more of the Deaf community is in employment this in turn has a positive impact on the community as a whole. It provides the younger generation with positive role models that they can aspire to. On the longer term the impact that employment has on the individual is immeasurable. There is a change in financial status, positive mental health, increased confidence and being able to participate in other activities. At present 19% of the Deaf community are unemployed due to mainly the communication barrier. The long-term aim is to reduce this number significantly through the support and guidance of the job club.