Deaf Access Bedfordshire

Making Bedfordshire a place where deaf and hard-of-hearing people can live, work, study, and relax without barriers.

Welcome to DEAFinately Awesome Kids Family BSL Course! We are delighted to be able to offer this fun, friendly and practical course to the parents of deaf children COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE! This six week 'Baby Signing Basics(TM)' Course provides a gentle introduction to using BSL with your deaf baby. The classes build, week on week to give you and your little one all of the skills and knoweldge you both need to communicate clearly and confidently. Our welcoming classes support you to learn how to sign with your baby, how to recognise their non-verbal communication cues with you, and how to support their speech, language and literacy development -with or without a hearing aid or implant. The classes, delivered by our deaf BSL tutor, help you and your little one normalise wearing hearing aid, and using your hands to communicate. We offer a safe, judgement-free place to explore how you and your family might fit into the deaf world, to ask questions and to build your network of families who understand your world. The course has been created by the award winning, CPD accredited<a href="https://www.littlesignersclub.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Little Signers Club</a>, who have over a decade's experience in working with hearing families to support them to learn BSL with their little ones. Specially adapted, using input from our BSL tutor and the latest, internationally renowned research on deaf children's language and reading development&nbsp;by the <a href="https://ladder-lab.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 14, 1);">Ladder Lab </a>(Literacy and Deafness Development Research Lab), the course is designed to meet you and your deaf little one - and your whole family - where you are, with kindness, encouragment and support. Whilst the course is aimed at children aged 3-12 months, we know how important it is for your baby to have access to signing as early as possible and we welcome new parents and babies from birth - just as soon as you are ready. We recommend (naps allowing) younger babies attend the 9:30am session where possible - but you know your little ones and your schedules, so do what works for you! This course has been funded by the amazing team at<a href="https://www.makesomenoise.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Global's Make Some Noise</a>, and we are working with <a href="https://www.bbpcf.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum</a> to bring it to you in a comfortable and safe environment and we are hugely thankful to both organisations for their help in making this possible. We can't wait to meet you and your little ones and join you on your signing adventure!

DEAFinately Awesome Kids - 6-week Family BSL Course

Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum SEND Network Event – Shaping the Future of Short Breaks

Child Development Centre Kempston

Thank you for your booking. We look forward to seeing you in November.Our training team will contact you at the end of october with further details.Questions? Contact us: info@acces

Do You Want To:<ul><li>Learn a new language?</li><li>Explore a career working in the Deaf Community?</li><li>Make your workplace, home, or educational setting more deaf-inclusive?</li><li>Communicate with Deaf friends, family, colleagues or customers?</li><li>Access an entry-level priced course, taught by an experienced Deaf tutor?</li><li>Discover a fun, friendly, supportive introduction to BSL?</li></ul>Then join our next BSL Foundation Course! This 6-week course will teach you basic conversational British Sign Language, as well as giving some insight into deaf history and culture. Together, we will explore the barriers faced by people with hearing loss and how we can come together to break those barriers down. Classes run every Thursday evening from 6:30pm - 8:30pmStart Date: Thursday 6th November 2025End Date: Thursday 11th December 2025 Cost: £48.00 total Terms and Conditions of Course AGE:This course is for adults aged 16+If you have a child who is interested in learning to sign, please contact info@accessbedford.org.uk and we will be happy to talk about other course options. ACCESS:This course takes place on the first floor of the building. If you have reduced mobility or struggle with stairs, please contact us before you book: info@accessbedford.org.uk REFUNDS:7 days notice or less - No refund available8-14 days notice - 50% refund available15 days or more - 90% refund available

A safe and welcoming place for BSL and SSE users to meet, chat and feel included.

The Place Theatre

Our Deaf Coffee Morning is a safe and welcoming place for BSL and SSE users to meet, chat and feel included. Tea, coffee, cold drinks and snacks available to buy at the bar, please feel&nbsp;free to&nbsp;bring your own lunch.​Meeting Dates ~ Autumn / Winter 2025:3rd October17th October31st October 14th November28th November12th December We will be back on:9th January​​LOTS of free parking.​Please be aware&nbsp;- we do not guarantee there will be BSL interpreters or communicators at this activity as it is not a teaching or practice session.

Join us for a drink and a catch up!

🍻 Deaf Pub – Friday 26th July Join us for a relaxed evening with the Deaf community – catch up, socialise, and unwind! 🗓 Friday 26th July | ⏰ From 7:30PM 📍 The Pilgrims, Wetherspoons, Bedford 🔞 18+ onlyAll Deaf and signing-friendly people welcome – see you there! 👋

Deaf pub - The Pilgrim's Progress - JD Wetherspoon

We offer Gentle, Inclusive Fitness classes for the deaf and hard of hearing community.&nbsp;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.

Thank you for requesting an appointment. PLEASE WAIT for a text message or email to confirm your booking. Please ensure you bring all of your paperwork and ID with you to your appointment. PLEASE let us know if you are unable walkup or down the stairs.

This is our free Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service with access to BSL communicators and Registered BSL 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. This service is by appointment only.

thanks for your booking - Festive Jumpers are optional!

A one-off Festive version of our BSL Cafe! Where? The Place Theatre (Lobby)Bradgate RoadBedfordMK40 3DE We run a regular meet-up for all BSL users, from complete beginners to&nbsp;native signers and interpreters. The group, which is hosted and 'guided' by one of our qualified BSL tutors, is open to anyone with an interest - no experience necessary.&nbsp;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 and get to know the deaf community. The Café creates links and friendships across communities. Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase, however please bring lunch with you. Children are welcome as long as they have a responsible adult with them at all times.

Thank you for your booking. We will see you soon!

Festive Lunch for our Deaf Coffee Morning Group. Come and join us for an end of year lunch, raffle and mini Quiz! This event is for our BSL users and communicaton support workers will be attending. Deaf Access Bedforshire will make a financial contriution to the cost of the meal to reduce the cost, which means you pay:&nbsp; 2 courses: £293 courses: £35 STARTERS·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spiced parsnip soup; sourdough, whipped sea salt butter (v)(pbo)·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;King prawn cocktail; sriracha marie rose, lettuce, sourdough, whipped sea salt butter·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pear &amp; celeriac salad; rocket, kohlrabi, tomato, cucumber, pumpkin seeds (pb)·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chicken liver &amp; brandy parfait; sourdough, beetroot &amp; horseradish chutney MAINS·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hand-carved roast turkey; pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, vegetables, red wine gravy (pbo)·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Boeuf au vin; gratin potato, parsnips, braised leeks·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Baked seabass; potato rosti, sprout &amp; pancetta fricassée, garden peas, bearnaise sauce·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mushroom bourguignon pie; truffle &amp; wholegrain mustard mashed potato, vegetables, red wine gravy (pb) DESSERTS·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Traditional Christmas pudding; brandy sauce (v)(pbo)·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mince pie cheesecake; clotted cream, strawberry compote (v)·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chocolate orange crème brûlée; shortbread (v)·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Apple crumble tart; coconut sorbet, cinnamon churro (pb) (v) vegetarian(pb) plant-based ingredients(pbo) plant-based option available ALLERGIESPlease email <a href="mailto:info@accessbedford.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">info@accessbedford.org.uk</a> BEFORE you book if you have any allergies.The Park has an open kitchen where all allergens are present. They use shared cooking equipment, including fryers, so they are unable to guarantee food is 100% free of allergens. Fish and poultry may contain bones.

Two Courses

Three Courses

The Park

Welcome to DEAFinately Awesome Kids Festive Special! Come and join us in your best festive jumpers as we explore some of the signs of the season and discuss how you can support your little one to explore and understand the world around them. We consider what adaptations you might want to make over the next few weeks to help your child feel safe and included . We will look at the overwhelm that can come with using a hearing device at this noisy time - and how parents and cares can cope with those big emotions that come with the overwhelm! This safe, judgement free session will also give you an idea of how our 'Sing, Sign and Rhyme(TM) sessions will feel, as the follow on option from our 6-week Family BSL course. Open to all parents/carers of deaf children/children with hearing loss - no signing experience required - we look forward to having a cuppa and a biscuit with you and having a song, a story and a smile with your little one.

Welcome to DEAFinately Awesome Kids Family BSL Course! We are delighted to be able to offer this fun, friendly and practical course to the parents of deaf children COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE! This six week 'Baby Signing Basics(TM)' Course provides a gentle introduction to using BSL with your deaf baby. The classes build, week on week to give you and your little one all of the skills and knoweldge you both need to communicate clearly and confidently. Our welcoming classes support you to learn how to sign with your baby, how to recognise their non-verbal communication cues with you, and how to support their speech, language and literacy development -with or without a hearing aid or implant. The classes, delivered by our deaf BSL tutor, help you and your little one normalise wearing hearing aid, and using your hands to communicate. We offer a safe, judgement-free place to explore how you and your family might fit into the deaf world, to ask questions and to build your network of families who understand your world. The course has been created by the award winning, CPD accredited<a href="https://www.littlesignersclub.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Little Signers Club</a>, who have over a decade's experience in working with hearing families to support them to learn BSL with their little ones. Specially adapted, using input from our BSL tutor and the latest, internationally renowned research on deaf children's language and reading development&nbsp;by the <a href="https://ladder-lab.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 14, 1);">Ladder Lab </a>(Literacy and Deafness Development Research Lab), the course is designed to meet you and your deaf little one - and your whole family - where you are, with kindness, encouragment and support. Whilst the course is aimed at children aged 3-12 months, we know how important it is for your baby to have access to signing as early as possible and we welcome new parents and babies from birth - just as soon as you are ready. This course has been funded by the amazing team at<a href="https://www.makesomenoise.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Global's Make Some Noise</a>, and we are working with <a href="https://www.bbpcf.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum</a> to bring it to you in a comfortable and safe environment and we are hugely thankful to both organisations for their help in making this possible. We can't wait to meet you and your little ones and join you on your signing adventure!

Deaf Access Bedfordshire

Deaf Access Bedfordshire

DEAFinately Awesome Kids - 6-week Family BSL Course

BSL Foundation Course - Winter Term

Deaf Coffee Morning

Deaf Pub

Deaf Fitness Classes

Deaf Space - Information Service

BSL Cafe

Coffee Morning Christmas Lunch

Family BSL Festive Special

6-Week Family BSL Course

6-Week Family BSL