Teams from Gulliver’s Theme Parks and Resorts and Ashdown Phillips & Partners are set to learn to use basic British Sign Language (BSL) thanks to a lottery funded website developed by Doncaster Deaf Trust.
A number of staff at the four Gulliver’s parks (Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock, Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes, Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham and Gulliver’s World in Warrington), and teams from a wide range of the multi-let offices, shopping centres, business parks, industrial estates, business centres and retail/leisure outlets managed by Ashdown Phillips & Partners across the UK, are set to sign up to www.doncasterdeafsign.org.uk as part of Doncaster Deaf Trust’s mission to encourage more people to learn to sign.
The Trust launched a free online British Sign Language level one course in March 2020 and more than 20,000 people have already joined the programme to learn this vital skill.
Alexis Johnson, executive principal of Doncaster Deaf Trust said: “It is fantastic news that teams in different locations in the UK and from theme parks to shopping centres are taking the time to learn to sign.
“This is not only a great communication skill to have but will enable these organisations to help and support members of the Deaf community who may need to use their services.
“We are looking forward to sharing videos and updates from the teams at Gulliver’s Theme Parks and Resorts and Ashdown Phillips as they learn the basics.”
The free course is available for anyone, and it is simple to sign up. The course can be enjoyed at any time and participants set their own pace, doing a little each day or weekly and practising as often as they can.
Steve Donnelly, director of guest experience at Gulliver’s Theme Parks and Resorts, said: “We have a number of members of the Gulliver’s team at our different parks who are all ready to join the course and learn to sign.
“We know how important communication is and learning basic Sign Language will help our team to communicate with Deaf visitors.”
Andrew Wraight, managing director at Ashdown Phillips & Partners said: “Our EDI team is working hard to spread the word and encourage as many members of our team as possible to take part in this course. This is a skill that will help them not only at work, communicating with d/Deaf colleagues and customers but will enable them to make connections in their own communities too.”
The course covers level one BSL content. If participants want to take an exam at the end they can do this via a third party and there is a cost associated with the exam.
To sign up to the free course visit www.doncasterdeafsign.org.uk