BSL Newsletter - November 2025

IMPORTANT LINKS:
Book BSL courses: https://www.nottsdeaf.org.uk/course-b...
Sign up to our monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/i8MVeY
Easyfundraising: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ea...
BSL exhibition tour: https://www.nottinghamcontemporary.or...
Google reviews: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv...

TRANSCRIPT:
Hello friends. Can you believe that Christmas Day is exactly a month away! Have you put the tree up yet? November has been fun with the new Deaf Connections Hub and crafty events!

SPOTLIGHT OF THE MONTH: BSL TOTSTIME & STORYTIME
We partner with Nottingham Central Library by providing one of our BSL Interpreters twice a month, making their Totstime and Storytime sessions accessible to deaf families. The play sessions are drop-in and informal. There’s no need to book.
● BSL Totstime – First Thursday of every month, 10.30-11am
● BSL Storytime – Third Monday of every month, 10.30-11am
For Totstime, a friendly library staff member will lead the sessions with stories, singing, instruments and puppets to keep babies and toddlers entertained.
For Storytime, the library’s specialist storyteller will whisk you away to far-off lands, igniting the children’s vibrant imaginations. The stories are aimed at children aged 0-5, but all are welcome!

NEW FREE LEVEL 2 BSL COURSE
We are excited to announce the start date for the new Level 2 BSL course! This is exclusively for parents and carers of deaf children! The course starts on 2nd December, 6pm-9pm.
To take part you have to be the following:
● A parent/carer or a close family member of a deaf child
● Able to commit to the 30 week course at NDS
● Either have passed a Level 1 BSL course or be at an equivalent level 1 standard

MORE LEVEL 1 & 3 COURSES
Due to high demand, we've now added new dates for our Level 1 and Level 3 BSL courses.
Our next Level 1 course starts on 2nd December, 10am-12pm at Central Library.
Our next Level 3 course starts on 1st December, 6pm-9pm at the NDS.

DEAF CONNECTION HUB
A big thank you to those who came to our previous hub despite the heavy rain!
Our next one will be on 12th December, 10.30am-12.30pm at the NDS hall. Please remember to wear your Christmas jumpers and accessories! We will be hosting a festive quiz and fun games. Please feel free to bring your preferred nibbles.
Don’t forget that there will be another hub in Mansfield on 28th November, 10.30am-12.30pm. The venue will be Tesco Extra cafe on Chesterfield Road South, NG19 7TS.
We look forward to seeing you there! This is a welcoming, safe space for the deaf community.

EASYFUNDRAISING
Not familiar with Easyfundraising? It is a cool donation tool that can be used every time you shop online. You can donate to your chosen charity for FREE and the price of your shopping stays exactly the same.
Easyfundraising is running a special offer this November! If you install the free app on your phone and choose Nottinghamshire Deaf Society as your cause, you will automatically raise £2! It’s completely free!
Thank you so much for your support. It is essential to help our charity grow and maintain the quality of our work.
Deadline: 30th November

XMAS & NEW YEAR DATES
Nottinghamshire Deaf Society will be closed for Christmas and New Year from 22nd December and will reopen on 5th January.
There will be no community groups or coffee mornings happening during this time. All the drop-in services will also be closed, including the welfare rights, advocacy, and employment support.
Our interpreting service will still take bookings throughout Christmas.
Our emergency out-of-hours service will continue as normal over Christmas and New Year. The emergency service can be contacted on 07974396299 via text, voice call, or WhatsApp video.
The last chance to drop in for our Interpreting Duty-time service before Christmas will be 17th December. It will restart on 7th January. There is a duty-time service available on 5th January but booking is needed.

GOOGLE REVIEWS
Have you used our support services? Our Welfare Rights, Employment, or Interpreting services? Have you attended our BSL or Deaf Awareness courses? Have you attended our community groups or coffee mornings?
If yes, we would be entirely grateful if you could leave us a Google review.

BSL TOUR WITH NOTTS CONTEMPORARY
This BSL exhibition tour will be led by Jason Tennant, an independent BSL tour guide. He will explore songs & poems showcased in the Palestinian artist duo's largest multimedia installation to date. Wednesday 17th December, 1pm-2pm