Melanie Gray, Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Len Gregory and Chantelle Dingwall from the Deaf Awareness Scheme

Birmingham’s Deputy Lord Mayor has headed a team of Council workers to help spread deaf awareness across the city – a task which has led the team to be named as a finalist in Birmingham City Council’s (BCC) prestigious Chamberlain Awards.

The Deaf Awareness Scheme was nominated by City Council employees for championing the need for BCC workers to learn British Sign Language (BSL), improve communications and strengthen equality between the hearing and deaf communities.  In recognition of their efforts, the Deputy Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, along with a number of other members of the Deaf Awareness Scheme have been named as finalists in the Equalities and Community Cohesion category.

The Chamberlain Awards scheme, which was established seven years ago by Councillor Alan Rudge, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources, is named after Joseph Chamberlain – one of Birmingham’s most respected Civic Leaders and is designed to reward BCC employees who go the extra mile to ensure that people of Birmingham receive quality services.

More than 100 employees within BCC have received training and, as a result, are more aware of issues which face the hearing impaired. The employees are now spreading the importance of deaf awareness amongst the communities in which they work and some have gone on to learn basic sign language. Both the Deputy Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress are undertaking further lessons as they intend to complete a course in BSL.

Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Len Gregory says: “It is very important for the Council to be involved in creating cohesion between the deaf and hearing communities; after all the Council have great influence within the city and should lead the way forward. Following the team’s hard work this year, I hope the deaf community now feel more included and are reaping the benefits from the doors of communication between the hearing impaired and City Council being opened.

“Moving forward, the team is now establishing links with Birmingham retail outlets to share good practice and help local businesses develop their own scheme. We have also, in conjunction with the Guide and Scout Associations, launched a Lord Mayors Challenge 2011 badge for Scouts and Guides. This is specially designed to promote deaf awareness amongst the youngsters by encouraging them to learn sufficient British Sign Language to enable them to sign their Association promise, which hopefulluy will inspire them to take further lessons in BSL. We are very pleased that over 1,000 badges have already been presented and it would be tremendous if, one day in the future, sign language makes it onto the national curriculum and is taught in schools across the region.  

“We are delighted to have been nominated for a Chamberlain Award, it is a great honour for the whole group and hopefully will inspire many others to join the scheme and raise deaf awareness across the city.”

BSL was formally recognised as a language in 2003 and is used by deaf people throughout the UK.

Councillor Rudge said: “The finalists in this year’s Chamberlain Awards have shown sheer determination and a caring attitude that really makes a difference to the local community. Their achievements highlight how the work done by Birmingham City Council employees has a direct and very real impact on both the city itself and the local residents.

“Since the awards scheme began, it has always attracted a high calibre of entrants and this year the competition is stronger than ever. The awards celebrate those employees who have gone far beyond their roles to make important and beneficial contributions to the communities in which they work and it is a pleasure to read so many inspiring stories.”

Award submissions were received under ten categories, including Working with Communities, Imaginative Teamwork and Dynamic Leadership. The general public were also invited to nominate their favourite team or member of staff in the People’s Choice for Service to the Community category. This award provides people, who do not work for BCC, with the opportunity to nominate the team or member of staff that they believe most deserves recognition.

The highly anticipated annual ceremony, where the winners of Chamberlain Awards 2011 will be announced, is due to be held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre (ICC) on 11 November.