Oldhamers urged to sign up for free British Sign Language lockdown programs

The Signs4Life scheme is to help people to communicate and engage with children and adults who may have hearing impairments

A new initiative to encourage more members of the public to take up sign language as an extra language and skill, is now available to residents of Greater Manchester.  

The Signs4Life scheme is to help people to communicate and engage with children and adults who may have hearing impairments. 

Hana Riaz, Signs4Life partnerships officer, said: “There are more than nine million hearing-impaired people registered in the UK.

"We have already worked with Manchester Youth Justice, Families Together, the local NHS, and Royal Mail.

"We wanted to open our programs to the general public, who might also have an interest in learning sign language, especially now that many people are stuck at home during this third lockdown.

"We are offering a free six-week BSL program, which you can enjoy and access from the comfort of your homes, delivered through Zoom."

Signs4Life is leading efforts towards a society in which people with disabilities have full access and are working to raise the public and political awareness of disability provision. 

For more details on the free community program, due to start after Easter half-term, please email Hana on: community@signs4life.org marking your email as 'Greater Manchester'.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.