News
Living with Hearing Loss Event
Living With Hearing Loss: A Warm, Welcoming and Inspiring Community Event
On 2 December, we hosted our Living With Hearing Loss (LWHL) event — an afternoon designed for anyone experiencing hearing loss, whether newly diagnosed, adjusting to changes, or looking for ways to stay connected in daily life. The event also welcomed family members, friends and colleagues wanting to better understand how to communicate and support the people they care about.
Our aim was simple:
‘To bring people together, share practical tools, offer expert advice, and create a supportive space where no one feels alone in their hearing loss journey.’
We were delighted to welcome over 40 people, many of whom had never engaged with CfD before. Reaching so many new people shows just how vital this kind of accessible, community-focused support is.
A Warm, Informative and Inclusive Event
The afternoon included:
- A welcome and introduction
- An engaging Audiology presentation by Simon Collins
- Three interactive workshops: Lipreading, Better Conversations, and BSL Taster Sessions
- A bustling Assistive Technology demonstration space
- Opportunities for 1–1 conversations, peer support and connection
From the start, attendees told us they felt welcomed, included and reassured:
“The event was very friendly and interesting… It was enjoyable meeting so many people with different experiences and outlooks on their deafness or hearing loss.”
Highlights From the Day
Audiology With Simon Collins (Senior Audiologist at UHBW NHS Foundation Trust)
Simon’s session was one of the most appreciated parts of the day, with attendees describing his talk as clear, informative and easy to follow:
“I could hear enough from the excellent loudspeaker.”
A small technical challenge with the loop system was resolved quickly— a great example of accessibility being a shared priority in the room.
Hearing Support with Hattie (HISS) The Hearing Impaired Support Scheme
Hattie’s Hearing Checks and hearing aid servicing offer was the first part of the event to be completely booked out, and she remained busy throughout the afternoon. Attendees valued the chance to receive tailored support about hearing equipment and next steps, and her presence added an important practical dimension to the day, and reflected just how needed this type of accessible support is.
Workshops That Resonate
All three workshops were incredibly well attended. People appreciated the practical tools they could take away immediately — from communication strategies to early lipreading techniques.
“I loved the taster sessions and none of them felt overwhelming.”
One of the most meaningful moments came from CfD’s own Jo and Samuel Jones, mother and son, who shared their lived experience of hearing loss within a family.
Their honest and heartfelt conversation helped people understand the wider emotional and relational impact of hearing loss:
“Jo’s analogy about hearing aids not working like glasses was exactly what I needed.”
The audience valued their openness and the space it created to reflect on their own journeys.
Assistive Technology Hub
Our CfD Tech team — Jason, Mark and Steve — were kept busy throughout the afternoon demonstrating devices, answering questions and helping people better understand what support exists for both Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.
One attendee described the experience beautifully:
“As someone who is so new to hearing loss, it restored my hope that I will not be isolated, lonely or depressed.”
❤️ Thank You
There was a genuine buzz throughout the afternoon— a feeling of community, connection and ease that people with hearing loss don’t always experience at public events. Seeing people genuinely enjoy the space together was one of the most powerful successes of the afternoon. Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, volunteered, presented or shared their story.
This was more than a workshop programme — it was a community coming together, learning from one another, and creating space for understanding, empowerment and connection. We’re excited to build on the success of this first Living With Hearing Loss event and look forward to offering more opportunities in 2026.
If you’d like to stay informed about future events, groups and workshops, please get in touch or join our mailing list.
Be a Side by Side volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Society
The Alzheimer’s Society are looking for BSL volunteers to visit an individual who is Deaf and living with a diagnosis of dementia in the Bedminster area of Bristol.
If you are interested or know someone else that may be interested, please apply here.
Alternatively you can email sophia.simlat@alzheimers.org.uk if you have any queries, or via InterpretersLive!
Select:
Company – Devon Partnership NHS trust
then
Department – Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service – role manager support (Sophia)
OR
Department – Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service – Application support (volunteering team)
For a BSL translation of the role of a side by side volunteer please see the video below.
CfD on BBC Points West
Our work to deliver deaf awareness sessions to healthcare students at Bristol UWE has featured on BBC Points West.
Click here to read more
BSL Bill
Thousands of Deaf people travelled to Trafalgar Square on Friday March 18th to support the third reading of the BSL Bill. Staff and trustees from CfD were there to celebrate this important day.
Click here to read more
Hear to Help – Help to Hear
Launch of a new Online Shop for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in the South West of the UK.
The Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People (CfD) is excited to announce that they have joined with a long-term supplier, Sarabec, to create a CfD Shop online to provide assistive technology for people with hearing loss throughout the South West.
David Melling, Director of CfD, said “During lockdown and working from home, I have become even more aware of the isolation that Deaf and Hard of Hearing people can experience. Door alerts and amplified phones are much needed items to ensure contact with the outside world as hearing loss is well known to cause loneliness and isolation. Working with Sarabec, whom we have source supplies of equipment for over 30 years, we came to create the CfD Shop! Our aim is to bring more awareness of this equipment to those who need it and ensure Deaf and Hard of Hearing people are not left isolated in this crisis.
While we have created this shop, we are still continuing to provide an equipment service for the residents of Bristol, funded by Bristol City Council. We will continue to provide free assessments and installation of equipment. The CfD Shop allows CfD to take its brand further into the UK to explore new avenues and therefore continuing to provide awareness and support for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People”.
Colin Foxton, MD of Sarabec said “The proposal to work with CfD on an online shop could not have come at a better time as we have been exploring this venture for some time. It was certainly a challenge during lockdown creating a new venture but CfD worked hard creating the outline of the shop. Their passion for supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing people are second to none. The relationship between Sarabec and CfD has always been good and so we are very excited to continue this and explore new avenues together”.
To find out more about the online shop and how the CfD and Sarabec Shop team can help, please contact us in one of the following ways:
Website: www.cfdshop.org.uk
Phone: 01642 247789
Text (minicom): 01642 251310
Email: mail@cfdshop.org.uk
Projects
Centre for Deaf are working alongside Gloucestershire Deaf Association to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who are having difficulties working or have been furloughed. The focus of this project is on creating peer support for Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants creating solutions to the barriers they face in returning to work or continuing to work from home. The evaluation will therefore focus on the group dynamics and on the perception of the value of the group activities by the participants.
We are aiming to identify employment issues for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people and their employers, the solutions that have emerged from the group sessions and the scope for a future project. To get involved, please email findwork@gda.org.uk if you are based in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Swindon or Wiltshire. If you are based in Bristol, please email: employment@centrefordeaf.org.uk.
We Are Bristol support hotline
Bristol City Council is running a free support hotline to help isolated and worried residents across the city during the Coronavirus pandemic.
If you are staying at home for health reasons and need help with food supplies, medicine and other essential items, please contact the helpline on 0800 694 0184 for support.
Deaf BSL users can contact the phoneline through a BSL Interpreter using SignVideo. If for any reason you are unable to use the Signvideo relay service, please contact the Sensory Impairment Team via their video drop in service and they will be able to help arrange support for you.
