Chloe’s and Sophie’s Special Ears Fund moved it’s services to brighten the lives of Deaf children to Wrexham and Flintshire in North Wales. We have had a fantastic response to our services since we arrived here in September 2021 and will continue to keep on building the relationships with Teachers of the Deaf, Teachers working with Deaf children and parents of Deaf children.  Here’s an update on what we have been up to so far:

FLETCH@ SIGN SONG WORKSHOPS

Fletch@ Deaf Popstar has held two Sign Song Workshops since September, one in Borras Park Junior School and one in Borras Park Infant School in Wrexham.

First stop was Borras Park Junior School in Wrexham.  At this school there are 11 Deaf children in total and and all of us at CSSEF could not wait to meet them.  This was the first Workshop held by Fletch@ since Lockdown started in March 2020 that was in person.  The song singed was ‘Sing’ by Gary Barlow – a song that connects deeply when describing Sign Language.  235 pupils at Borras Park Junior School were engaged and learning Sign Language, and for many, it was the first time they had met a Deaf adult. 

The pupils were given the opportunity to ask Fletch@ any question they wished about what it was like to be Deaf or anything about her music.  It was an absolutely incredible day! The highlight for CSSEF will forever remain the children wanting to talk with Fletch@, and making a point to come and find her to say how much they loved Signing with her.  Especially the two pupils who had said that they “Don’t like being Deaf”.One child visited the workshop twice, they enjoyed it that much! Four children who met Fletch@ personally said they’ve never met a Deaf adult before and all were starstruck.

We have bookings for schools all the way up to January 2022 and have our diaries open for more schools to book a Sign Song Workshop with Fletch@.

NORTH EAST WALES SENSORY SUPPORT SERVICE

Chloe’s and Sophie’s Special Ears Fund met with five of the team from North East Wales Sensory Support Service with one goal in mind, to brighten the lives of Deaf children.  CSSEF were able to share what the passion and motivation is of their charity to the North East Wales Sensory Support Service.  They were able to show all the incredible resources of books with Deaf characters or Sign Language inside them, equipment that will support the emotional well-being of Deaf children as well as toys that have hearing aids and cochlear implants, so that Deaf children can feel less isolated.

Rachel Ward, Learning Advisor said: “Karen and Diane, I cannot thank you enough for this morning’s opportunity to meet you both and look at all the amazing resources you can provide for the children and young people and schools, first hand. It was truly emotional hearing about the response Fletch@ has had already in schools and hope this is the start of many sessions. So excited about all the future projects in the Flintshire and Wrexham. I still have an enormous smile on my face just thinking about the difference you will make to our children, families and schools”

Each of the Teachers of the Deaf were invited to select resources to build a kit of their own to share with teachers and parents of Deaf children in Wrexham and Flintshire.  This included books, toys, Deaf identity items and School Boards with Welsh Sign Language and British Sign Language on them.

Huge thanks to The Neumark Foundation for making this possible.

Left to right, Lorraine Marshall, Sian Bebb, Diane Murphy CSSEF volunteer, Karen Jackson CSSEF CEO, Rachel Ward and Sharon Warwick.   Clare Langdon not photographed.