Abernethy – September 2010
We had another successful weekend at Abernethy in September. The weather was fabulous and it was great to see a number of new families.Some pictures throughout this newsletter.
Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, it looks like we will not be having a residential weekend this year, but hope to offer a day at Lochter or Deeside Activity Parks instead.
Hopefully Abernethy will return in 2012!
Aberdeen & NE Deaf Society
You will probably be aware that Aberdeen & North East Deaf Society, based at Smithfield Road, had to close down last year.
GDCS have worked closely with ANEDS over the years and were both saddened at the closure, and concerned about the impact on services for local families with deaf children.
The contracts for the services previously provided by ANEDS have now been awarded to:
Aberdeen City/Moray: Grampian Society for the Blind, now known as North East Sensory Services
Tel: 0845 2712345
Aberdeenshire: Deaf Action Tel: 01467 629604
GDCS have been making links with these organisations and representatives will be attending our committee meetings over the next few months so that we can carry forward the good relationship we had with ANEDS and hopefully ensure provision for local families continues to be made.
Upcoming Events
We are currently planning our events for 2011, and are hoping to include some of the following. Booking form included for some of these, and others will follow nearer the time. If you have any suggestions or requests please let us know.Hoodles Soft Play Centre
Ice-skating
Falconry Centre
Activity Day – Lochter or Deeside Activity Parks
Aberdeen School for the Deaf continue to host their family coffee mornings on the first Thursday of the month (term-time only).
NDCS Campaigns
NDCS are asking local groups and individual members to get involved in campaigning and fighting to retain and improve local services.
In light of the current economic climate and inevitable cuts to public services, the latest campaign asks you to:
Help stop cuts to services for deaf children
Please take urgent action to ensure that services for deaf children are protected. NDCS has already received reports from worried parents whose local authorities plan to cut services for deaf children. Please contact your local councillors as soon as possible to stop this happening in your area.
The NDCS website makes it quick and easy for you to do this. Click (or copy) on this link
http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=19&ea.campaign.id=8181&ea.tracking.id=Campaign%20HP
Music in Motion
“Music in Motion” is a performance-signing group, recently set up by Debbie Kirkness, founder of Aberdeen’s Music 4U, and working with BSL tutors Mags Christie and Pat Grant.
The group are looking for new members of all ages and abilities – there is no cost to participants. Both hearing and hearing-impaired participants are welcome. No previous BSL experience is needed.
Performance signing groups (or signing choirs) are growing in popularity and have recently been seen on the popular television series Glee and incorporated in a performance by Singer Station on Channel 5’s Don’t Stop Believing.
Glee clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNl91QXws7o
Singer Station clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ_R9Nc8Bn8
For more information, please contact Debbie on 07859814458.
We look forward to seeing some performances from this group in the not-too-distant future!
Childline – topical films for young people in BSL
Childline have produced some topical films for young people that are signed. This will certainly be helpful for signposting.
Topics included:
• Bullying
• Cyber bullying
• Family relationships
• Pregnancy
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Emotional abuse
• Divorce and seperation.
Link: http://www.childline.org.uk/Play/Pages/BSLVideos.aspx
Heard about Sooyang Do?
Euan Robertson (age 7) told us about Sooyang Do which his whole family take part in.“Sooyang Do is a martial art and you get to play games there as well as training. I go every Monday and Wednesday. You wear a white suit called a Dobok and you wear a belt. I am a green belt. I learn different kicks and different punches every time I move up a belt colour. There are 11 different belt colours and the highest belt is black belt. To move to a higher belt you have to grade. At a grading, there are lots of judges watching to check you know how to do all the different things properly. This means that you have to do good work and concentrate and behave. You do combinations and patterns and when you are finished you have to say "Hey" in a really loud voice. At the start of every class, everybody says a promise - this is "I promise to always do my best and never give up; to obey my parents and teachers; to tell the truth and honour my word; to always be polite; to never misuse what I learn in class". When you go into the hall you have to bow and say "Jin Sil", this is to show respect. We also bow to our teacher. My mum, dad and big brother, Jack, all come to Sooyang Do with me."
Newsletter Articles
If you have any articles, achievements, photos or suggestions for inclusion in our next newsletter, or if you have a recommendation for a useful or entertaining website, please e-mail Grampian@ndcsgroup.org.uk
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