British Sign Language and Deaf Awareness training, courses, tasters and qualifications. BSL & Deaf Awareness Training Training & Education We offer BSL and Deaf Awareness Training for Businesses, Non-profit, Education and Public/Community Groups. Both our 6-week BSL Foundation Courses tailored to your specific needs, and 3-hour Deaf Awareness Workshops can help make your organisation or community more welcoming, accessible and and inclusive for the 135,000 deaf people who are living, working, studying and relaxing right next to you. FREE Training Available! If you are part of a non-profit or charitable organisation based in Bedford Borough, we are delighted to announce that funding from The Harpur Trust means we may be able to offer you and your team a FREE 3-hour Deaf Awareness Workhop. Contact info@accessbedford.org.uk for more information! Let's Work Together Get in touch to discuss how we can work with you to make Bedfordshire an inclusive place to live, work, study and relax. First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting! Community BSL course for Signs Of Unity Event with Queen's Park Community Organisation and Pride of Place-Bedford 2024 Foundation BSL course for members of the public 2024 Community BSL course for Signs Of Unity Event held at Eagles Bookshop. Free course funded by Queen's Park Community Organisation and coordinated with Pride of Place-Bedford 2024 Bespoke Intro to BSL class for staff at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service 2024 BSL Foundation Course for members of the public 2024 Deaf Awareness Training for staff at University of Bedford Deaf Awareness Training for Bedford Borough Council BSL Foundation Class - 2023 Bespoke 1/2 day Intro to BSL class for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service BSL Taster Session. Free session for members of the Public in Bedford. We support Deaf BSL users to train as BSL tutors to deliver Family BSL classes, Deaf Awareness Training and BSL Courses. Our BSL courses, available to families, businesses, charities, schools, statutory organisations, and members of the public, bridge communication gaps and promote community understanding. An extraordinary legacy gift donated to us by the late Josie Harris, means that we are able to offer a limited number of free places for deaf attendees to our public BSL courses and Level 1 Qualification courses. Please contact info@accessbedford.org.uk for details. You can support us to train more deaf people to teach and to support more deaf people to learn BSL here: Donate

Coffee Morning for Deaf BSL users. Located in Bedford Town Centre with lots of free parking, we welcome British Sign Language users from across the UK to join us for this free social event. Deaf Coffee Morning Where: The Place Theatre, Bradgate Rd, Bedford, MK40 3DE When: We meet every other Friday between 11am - 2pm Cost: Free to attend. Tea, coffee, cold drinks and snacks available to buy at the bar, please feel free to bring your own lunch. For dates, see our What's On Page LOTS of free parking. Please be aware - we do not guarantee there will be BSL interpreters or communicators at this activity as it is not a teaching or practice session. Our Deaf Coffee Morning is a safe and welcoming place for BSL and SSE users to meet, chat and feel included. Our Deaf Coffee Morning provides a social lifeline for Deaf BSL and SSE users, particularly those aged 50-90, combating isolation and fostering community connections. Our welcoming and friendly group helps to strengthen community ties, increase visibility, and attract new service users as the group continues to grow. People travel from across Bedfordshire - and beyond - to attend our Coffee Mornings. These gatherings are funded by dontations and the sponsorship rasied by our team at Bedford Running Festival, as well as a winter suppliment from the Welcoming Spaces grant at Bedford Borough Council. The coffee morings are held in private spaces, providing a safe place for service users to communicate in their first/preferred language without fear of prejudice or discrimination. You can support our work and enable us to continue running our Deaf Coffee Morning, here: Donate

BSL practice sessions in Bedfordshire for students, interpreters, TSLIs, CSWs and anyone with an interest in using British Sign Language. Free, and family friendly. BSL Café We run a regular meet up for all BSL users, from native signers and interpreters to complete beginners. This safe, welcoming and inclusive space gives our deaf friends a welcoming place to catch up and socialise and provides our hearing allies with the opportunity to practice their BSL. The Café creates links and friendships across communities. Families welcome. Where : The Embankment Pub, Bedford MK40 3PD When: 3rd Saturday of the Month from 9:30am - 11:30am. Cost: Free! (donations welcome) Hosted by one of our deaf BSL tutors, these sessions aim to support new learners gain skills and confidence. Let us know you're coming! Book online here

Our Team We take great pride in our dedicated team of trustees and staff who work tirelessly to support our deaf community. Our team is composed of passionate individuals, each bringing their unique skills and expertise to ensure we deliver the best services possible. Board of Trustees Our trustees include two profoundly deaf individuals and one parent of a deaf child, with 100% of the trustee team having a disability. They bring valuable lived experiences, from personal experience of deafness to supporting deaf children and breaking communication barriers. Their skills span social work, IT, finance, community engagement, marketing, event planning, and leadership, enabling us to effectively meet the diverse needs of our community. Catherine Wright Founder & Chair of Trustees Claire Jones Trustee Becky James Trustee Our Staff We currently have a team of four, paid, part time staff, who support and are supported by a team of freelancers and volunteers. If you're interested in volunteering for us, get in touch at info@accessbedford.org.uk . Manager Jo Emmerson Jo has been working for Deaf Access Bedfordshire since 2022. As the daughter of a deaf adult, mother to a child with hearing loss and with hearing loss herself, Jo has numerous ties to the community. Jo's background is in Community Engagement, and having run her own successful business prior to joining our team, she is also well-versed in being a multi-skilled multi-tasker. She has been central to securing several grants for the charity and is passionate about bring BSL classes to Bedfordshire both to improve understanding in the hearing community and also to support families of deaf children to ensure every deaf child thrives with full access to language from birth. Communicaiton and Operations Officer Tammy Thwaites Tammy had been volunteering at Deaf Access Bedfordshire for over a year before joining the team in a paid role. She brings a wealth of experience to the team, with her background in Accounting, a level 2 qualification in Information, Advice and Guidance Services, plus extensive Communication Support Worker experience. She is progressing towards her Level 3 in British Sign Language and is passionate about helping our community to access the services, eduaction, employment and leisure activities that they require.

Our FREE Information, Guidance and Advice service for the deaf community across Bedfordshire, with free access to Qualified Interpreters and Communication Support Workers. Appointment only. This is our free Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service with access to Qualified BSL communicators and interpreters. If you have hearing loss we can help you with a wide range of personal and private matters, from finances, legal matters and medical issues, to divorce and funeral arrangements. Request an Appointment From June 2024 - May 2025 this service is funded to run one day a week by Bedford Luton Community Foundation through the Frank Branston Fund. What Is Deaf Space ? Deaf Space Testimonials All Videos All Categories Play Video Play Video 01:04 2024 Deaf Space Support Areas Play Video Play Video 00:47 Barbara Our Deaf Space Advisory Service bridges the gap in support for the deaf community that statutory services and other charities often miss due to lack of BSL skills and budget for interpreters. This service provides free access to qualified BSL Interpreters and Communication Support Workers with Information, Advice and Guidance Qualifications, helping deaf individuals navigate various life challenges. The service has been in high demand since its post-COVID reinstatement, underscoring its place as an essential service for the 135,000 deaf people across the region. You can help us to continue this work by making a donation here: Donate

Workshops, training, activities and skills development - accessible to the deaf community and BSL users with free access to Interpreters and communication support workers. Deaf Wellbeing We offer BSL-interpreted workshops, information events, videos and accessible documents to help keep our community safe and informed. This project is kindly funded by the Harpur Trust until April 2025 To find out what's coming up and book your place, visit our online booking page HERE Rainbow Bedford 2024 Proud to be here. Rainbow Bedford Festival Sadika teaches a crowd some key LGBTQ+ signs and the colours of the rainbow! Strictly Deaf Dancing Fun and inclusive partner dance class taught by professional Dance Teacher Jo Wilcox. Movement is essential to mental and physical wellbeing. Deaf Fit Deaf inlusive fitness class delivered by Back to the Fitness as part of our Deaf Active Day. Movement is essential for our mental and physical wellbeing. Deaf Fit Deaf inlusive fitness class delivered by Back to the Fitness as part of our Deaf Active Day. Movement is essential for our mental and physical wellbeing. Diabetes Awareness Talk Information stand and talk given by Bedford Diabetes Service, with BSL Interpreters to enable full access to information. Rainbow Bedford 2023 BSL support for the Rainbow Bedford 2023 event. Inclusion comes in all the colours of the rainbow! Health Watch Bedford Borough Women's Health Event Information stand and communication support for women in Bedford to access vital health and wellbeing information in a safe and inclusive setting.

Our Services We are committed to empowering the deaf community through our services, ensuring the 135,000 deaf people across Bedfordshire can access the support and resources needed to thrive. DEAF SPACE Free BSL-accessible information, advice & guidance. More Info DEAF COFFEE MORNING Free drop in social morning for BSL users. More Info DEAF FITNESS Weekly, BSL-accessible, inclusive fitness classes. More Info BSL & DEAF AWARENESS Taster classes, foundation courses and bespoke training. More Info EVENTS & COMMUNITY Working with partners to raise awareness and promote inclusion . More Info BSL CAFE Welcoming and supportive, free BSL practice and social sessions. More Info INTERPRETING &TRANSLATION Providing qualified interpreters and high quality translations. More Info

Deaf Access Bedfordshire supports the 135,000 people in our region with hearing loss. We run deaf awareness and BSL training, organise community activities, supply BSL interpreters and offer a FREE advice service. Making Bedfordshire a place where deaf and hard of hearing people can access everything needed to live, work, study, and relax. Services We Offer DEAF SPACE Free BSL-accessible information, advice & guidance. More Info DEAF FITNESS Weekly, BSL-accessible, inclusive fitness classes. More Info DEAF COFFEE MORNING Free drop in social morning for BSL users. More Info DEAFinately AWESOME KIDS Social events, BSL classes and support. More Info DEAF WELLBEING Fully BSL-accessible workshops to share information and skills More Info BSL & DEAF AWARENESS Taster classes, foundation courses and bespoke training. More Info BSL CAFE Welcoming and supportive, free BSL practice and social sessions. More Info INTERPRETING &TRANSLATION Providing qualified interpreters and high quality translations. More Info EVENTS & COMMUNITY Working with partners to raise awareness and promote inclusion . More Info Our Mission Catherine Wright, Founder and Chair of Trustees When myself and some friends founded Access Bedford (as we were known then), back in 2014 it was because we realised there was a real problem for deaf families, like mine, who were unable to access services across Bedford. We found barriers at every level of our community and in every area of life - from accessing healthcare and voting to finding inclusive youth groups and social and cultural support. We knew, back then, that it would be a battle to change hearts and minds, but we wanted to make Bedfordshire a place where the deaf and hard of hearing community could live, work, learn and relax and feel included. Here we are 10 years later and there have been some really significant improvements both locally and nationally - including the creation of the BSL Act in 2022 to support our rights to have equal access. However, as a Community we are still marginalised and battling many of the same barriers, with poor planning and communication from statutory bodies, retail, cultural, social and leisure providers across the region. Since appointing dedicated staff to manage the charity and deliver services in 2022, we are starting to see a shift in Bedfordshire. We have been able to secure additional funding, which has meant we have been able to reach and support more people, as well as increase the number of partners we support to make their settings and resources more inclusive. I am hopeful that in the next 10 years, Deaf Access Bedfordshire (as we're known now!) will no longer need to fight to ensure the 135,000 deaf people in our community can access basic services. We hope that we will be able to turn our focus towards education and skills development, teaching the hearing community to sign, supporting deaf children and their families to gain early access to language, and bringing the BSL GCSE to our local schools. Find out how you can support us, here .

Support for families of deaf and hard of hearing children and deaf parents. We offer social events and Family BSL classes in Bedfordshire. Family BSL Our Family BSL and DEAFinitely Awesome Kids social events offer support, tips and connection to parents of deaf children. Most deaf children are born into hearing families, with parents who may never have met a deaf person or considered how to communicate and connect with someone who cannot hear them. We welcome deaf parents to our family groups, which are supported by BSL communicators, supporting new parents to meet other families at a similar stage and share tips, experiences and ask questions. Our sessions help parents to build their network and find their space as parents in the deaf community, to support this integral part of their child's identity and to thrive as a family. We offer regular social activities and will be bringing our FREE Family BSL classes back to Bedford in 2025. For more information, email: info@accessbedford.org.uk or check our Whats On page for upcoming events.

Discover what's on and book activities and training with Deaf Access Bedfordshire Book Online

Fitness classes for the deaf and hard of hearing community across Bedfordshire, delivered with BSL and visual prompts. Deaf Fitness Classes We offer Gentle, Inclusive Fitness classes for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Delivered using BSL, these classes are suitable for all levels of fitness and ability. We welcome hearing allies to these sessions. Classes are delivered by Michael Easton from Back to the Fitness. Where: John Bunyan Sports & Fitness, Mile Road, Bedford, MK42 9TS When: Wednesdays ~ 10:00am - 10:45am Cost: Funds raised by our Bedford Running Festival team allows us to subsidise these classes to just £3 per person per week. Pay on the door - please bring cash. You can save your place here: Reserve a Place!

We support organisations and communities to make meetings, events and appointments accessible to the deaf community, as well as offering translation services and subtitling for videos. Interpreting & Translation Services Our BSL (British Sign Language) interpreting and translating services are designed to bridge communication gaps and foster understanding within the community. Here's a brief overview of what we offer: Interpreting Services Qualified Interpreters: Our team includes Registered Sign Language Interpreters (RSLIs), Trainee Sign Language Interpreters (TSLIs) and Level 3+ Qualified Communication Support Workers (CSWs) and who are highly skilled and experienced in providing professional interpreting and communication services to meet your need and budget. Various Settings: We cover a wide range of settings, including medical appointments, legal consultations, healthcare settings, educational settings, workplace meetings, and community events. Accessibility: We strive to make our services as accessible as possible, ensuring that deaf BSL users can fully participate in all aspects of life, independently and without barriers. Translating Services English text to BSL: We provide translation services for converting written English documents into British Sign Language videos. This service is particularly useful for organisations that need to make their information accessible to deaf users. English Video to BSL Video: Our translators can also translate English videos to into BSL ensuring that communication is clear and understood by all parties. Closed Captions: We are also able to offer a closed captioning service when providing a BSL video translation to ensure all deaf people are included. Additonal Features Confidentiality: All of the interpreters, communicators and translators we work with adhere to strict confidentiality protocols, ensuring that sensitive information is handled with care. Custom Solutions: We offer tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of our clients, whether they are individuals, businesses, or public service providers. Support for Events: We provide interpreting services for events, ensuring that deaf attendees can fully participate and engage. Our goal is to support the deaf community by making communication seamless and inclusive, enabling everyone to thrive in their daily lives. If you have any specific needs or require more details, feel free to ask! Request an Interpreter Commissioned by Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum, created by Deaf Access Bedfordshire Request a Quote For Interpreting / Translation Services Please take a moment to fill out the form. First Name Last Name Email Subject Leave us a message... Submit Thanks for submitting!