Deafblind UK Volunteer

Update - August 2025 

Welcome to your Volunteers’ Update, designed to provide you with information and updates to support you in your role!

If you have any feedback about this newsletter, or if there is anything specific that you would like to read about then please contact our Volunteering Team on 01733 973 466 or email volunteering@deafblind.org.uk.

---

Befriending Drop In

Raine hosted a great online session during Volunteer's Week all the way back in June. Volunteers shared hints and tips and what had brought them to their volunteering role and Raine shared some impactful feedack from some of the Deafblind UK members who had benefitted from the befriending service. Her next session will take place on Tuesday 19 August 2-3pm on zoom.  These sessions are a great way to meet your fellow volunteers and a chance to feedback and share in a group setting. To register for this session, simply click here and you will receive joining details. 

---

Charity Collaboration with Caterpiller 

We've been lucky to begin work on a two year collaboration with Caterpillar's Peterborough facility. June saw 20 employees support us at our supported housing complex, Rainbow Court, helping out with a variety of maintenace tasks. Not only did they bring their painting and gardenining skills but aso their smiles and plenty of sunshine! We're looking forward to hosting more teams of volunteers this week at our Rivergate retail store.

---

Huge thanks to Fundraising volunteers Camille and Ingrid for their recent collection for Deafblind UK at Morrisons in Acton, West London!

Our Commuity Fundraising Team are going from strength to strength with many events lined up over the next coming months. Our Rainbow Run takes place in September and you can find out about other fundrasining activities on the Events page on our website.

---

Volunteer Learning & Training Dates

BSL Taster 

Deafblind UK's James McVicker will be hosting an online Introduction to BSL on Tuesday 16th September from 12.30pm-2.00pm.

This is a gret opportunity to learn a little about British Sign Language and culture with a qualified BSL interpreter and is always a fun session. To book you place click here 

Deafblind Awareness Sessions

Sensory Support Officer, Andrew Barnes, continues his Deafblind Awareness open sessions and will be joined by one of our members who will be sharing their story and experiences of their own sight and hearing loss. These sessions are a great opportunity to increase your understanding about the impact of deafblindness and we strongly recommend that all volunteers attend a session if they can.

The next available courses will take place on:

• Thursday 4th September 14.00 – 15.30
• Tuesday 23rd September 14.00 – 15.30

To register to attend, simply use this link and add your details! https://forms.office.com/e/JQxcHiQJL2

---

Do you know about our Light Touch Services? These are offered to all members when they join us:

• Birthday card – A birthday card is posted out to members/carers and volunteers ahead of their birthday. These are also sent in a braille or tactile version or a car can be emailed.
• Birthday contact – Members can receive a contact on their special day to wish them a ‘Happy Birthday’
• Christmas/Celebration card – As per the birthday cards.
• Wellbeing contact – A contact is made every three months to see how they are, have a chat and where needed/wanted to offer any services/areas of support.
• ‘I’m Deafblind’ card – A credit card sized card that individuals can show to others to explain that they are deafblind and how best they can communicate with them. https://deafblind.org.uk/get_support/im-deafblind-cards/

If you volunteer with anyone wanting to access these services, please get in touch at volunteering@deafblind.org.uk and we will make contact!

---

 

Save the Date!

Thursday 9th October

This year’s conference is fast approaching and the preparations are well underway.

Make sure you save the date and look out for further details coming soon!