Scottish Ethnic Communities Fund - Zubair Hussain

Deaf Connections would like to congratulate Zubair Hussain on his successful funding award from the Scottish Ethnic Communities Fund.

Awarded: £5,198

Project Name: Minority Ethnic Community Interpreter Project

This project aims to support Scotland's Asian Deaf Community. Currently there are no Asian British Sign Language Interpreters in Scotland. The needs of deaf people are very specific to the individual and it is often difficult for mainstream interpreters to fully understand the cultural context of people from Asian Communities. An interpreter from an Asian background will have the cultural knowledge and skills to effectively advocate on behald of Asian deaf people. The funding will be utlisied to gain the BSL Level 6 Interpreter Course.

Online and Drop in Surgery for minorty ethnic deaf people!

Ishara is excited to be present our new online and drop in surgery for the deaf minority ethnic community in Scotland. You can book an appointment for an online consultation or drop in for a face to face chat. We can help you deal with queries around benefits, housing, employment, learning. We also offer culturally sensitive support around cultural issues like forced marriage and honour based violence. Deaf Connections Ishara is also a Third Party Reporting Centre for reporting any Hate Crime so if you have been a victim or witnessed a Hate Crime, please contact our surgery for more information. The surgery will be supported by our support worker Tasnim Sharif who can be contacted at Tasnim@deafconnections.co.uk or SMS - 07749311524. Please see flyer below for more details:

Ishara Visits Aberdeen - North East Sensory Services!

Ishara and the Asian Deaf Club have managed to reach Aberdeen in recent training travels. 

Tasnim Sharif and Nafiesa Aslam from the Asian Deaf Club visited the Deaf Club in the North East Sensory Services centre to present training on Asian Cultures, showing the difference between Indian and Pakistani cultures. 

The Club really enjoyed the session. We would like to thank all who attended and Jean Pentland from the BDA for organising the session.

BSL Zone Glasgow - Well done Tasnim!

BSL Zone Glasgow took place on Friday 21st June at the Scottish Youth Theatre with 120 deaf people from Scotland attending. Deaf Connections Ishara's very own Tasnim Sharif was part of the panel discussing her involvement with Under the Lamp and her support to the Asian Deaf Community. Tasnim has been an ambassador for the rights of deaf minority ethnic people and a role model to many in Scotland - Well done Tasnim!

Framework for Action Inverness

Framework for Action visited Inverness next to ask about support to deaf minority ethnic people and learn more about the practice of agencies in the Highlands. We had a range of agencies including NHS Highlands, Highlands Council, Police Scotland and Highland Multicultural Friends and some great examples of work. We would like to thank you all for attending us and the Hilton Community Centre for hosting us!

 

Training SASLI BSL Interpreters

Training of British Sign Language Interpreters is always important for the Ishara Project. It helps us to ensure deaf minority ethnic people will receive the same standards of support from interpreters and also helps interpreters to deal with culturally sensitive or complex issues. The session was well attended by 12 interpreters in Glasgow and a Deaf Blind Interpreter. We would like to thank all the enthusiasm and learning shared at this session and look forward to followup work with all our interpreters in the future.  Well done to all the interpreters who attended and were awarded with our certificates!

BSL Awareness to ME Communities in Edinburgh

 

Ishara successfully delivered 2 BSL Awareness Sessions in Edinburgh with BEMIS and the Edinburgh and Lothians Sensory Partnership. Around 40 people attended both sessions with interest to follow up and learn more BSL. Thanks to all participants and to Frankie and Tariq for hosting us in RNIB Scotland Head Office.