about deaf-leicester

By the editor of deaf-leicester

Well, you've come to a very boring page ... where I'm going to waffle my head off about how the idea of setting up this website came up... blah blah..

why deaf-leicester was set up ... Yes yes yes I'll come to that in a mo.... wanna tell u a bit about myself first ....I was born and bred in Leicester, and during my childhood & adulthood I was always involved with the deaf club until I moved to Birmingham in 1995. Well, the photo above... from the art competition photograph ... it proves that I have been around the deaf club since when I was small... ;-)

After having enough of the Brummies (or should I say, they HAD enough of me ha ha), I moved back to my beloved hometown about two years ago and was pleased to see the deaf social club still going strong. But I was taken back how lacking in progress the deaf community has been in other areas. There were no deaf youth, no local deaf sports, no more deaf drama, no deaf women health group or any useful association within the deaf community happening (compared to Birmingham), which has concerned me deeply.

Now I'm going to rant. It is time for us deafos in the whole of Leicestershire to take heed of this poor & dire situation and to push ourselves to make things happen.... or to demand! What's worse, I've been demanding & debating for a lot of things to happen for the deaf community, ever since I moved back to Leicester... but I don't see anyone else taking the reins or fully support in doing the same, ....  it felt like everyone prefer to just sit and talk talk talk but no action?! Or am I wrong? I could be wrong as I have not been back for that long ... Is it because the deaf people in Leicester doesn't know how to empower themselves, or even to demand their rights for things to happen? That is the question. Do let me know what you think! I might have completely missed something vital, and if I did, I hope you will correct me on this.

Start the ball rolling.... or better still, start the ideas flowing....

Ok ok ok.... enough of my ranting and waffling.... how did I thought up about the deaf pub and this website?.... picture this ... one Tuesday afternoon at the Bruccanni cafe ... up town... chatting with other deaf ladies, I discovered that there are so many other deaf people living in the community that does not go to the deaf club, which concerned me, as I felt it is so important for those deaf people to be able to mix/associate with other deaf/hearing people without any communication barrier.... this motivated me in thinking about finding a neutral venue/ground for anyone to meet and also to create some sort of accessible media (e.g. website) for those people too. Obviously I realised not everyone have internet access, but this will be something of a challenge for me to resolve in near future!

So on behalf of those lovely deaf ladies, we started the ball rolling, by setting up a first deaf pub gathering in leicester at Local Hero (Foreman Common/Cattle Market), which was firstly held last June. Thanks to you all who attended & supported this event. Those who helped spread the word for me, thanks so much you're a star. You know who you are. I had positive feedback from some of people, few did grumbled about how expensive the drinks were and how far out of the town it was! Can't please everyone eh. But it was also good to see some present and previous sign language students at the pub as well, a great opportunity for them to practise their signings, because i suspect there is no where else for them to go and practise their sign language skills too... Hope to see you all at the next one!

And lastly... (hurrah!)

Anyway enough of my blah blah-ing, I really do hope you'll enjoy my website and I am happy to receive any feedback ... good or bad, .... go on send me one! Once again: This site wont success or be able to continue..... without your input, contribution, feedback, support, or even a hand.... like I said again, I cannot do all this on my lonesome self, so any help or contribution or even a cuppa tea will be sooooo wonderful....

Oh by the way I am still new to all this website business so bear with me while I learn as I go on...