The British Deaf Association has long been regarded as the charity for the Deaf, signing community, so being Chair of the BDA is no walk in the park.
The role is voluntary, and among numerous other tasks, the Chair of the BDA works in partnership with David Buxton, the CEO, and leads the Board of Trustees in planning strategy and setting objectives for the charity.
The BDA’s aims including gaining better BSL language rights, greater equality in society and empowerment for Deaf people.
The nomination period is complete, and now BDA members have until 6th August to cast their vote. But who will they vote for?
This election differs from past elections because the candidates are reaching out via social media to tell people what their aims would be.
Two candidates have set up Facebook groups supporting their campaigns. There are also signed videos from each of them on the BDA website along with written election statements.
The candidates, briefly, are:
Agnes Dyab
A board member for 8 years and the current Vice Chair, Dyab has organised the BDA’s Annual Conference since 2006 and created the BDA Communication team. She was also involved in setting up the BDA’s Vision, Mission and Values.
Terry Riley
The current Chair, Riley has served for 6 years in the role. He has extensive media and campaigning experience. His priorities are Deaf empowerment, the implementation of BDA policies and campaigns, plus a focus on governance and management.
Check his Facebook page out by clicking here.
Sylvia Simmonds
A previous BDA Vice Chair, Simmonds is a qualified youth worker and is a current campaigner for the Spit the Dummy BSL Act Facebook group. Her three priorities are campaigning for Equality of Access and a BSL Act, encouraging community networking via social events, and reaching out to Deaf grassroots.
Check her Facebook page out by clicking here.
So, if you’re a BDA member, who are you supporting, and why? Tell us below!
You can find BSL videos and written statements from the three candidates, the ballot, a letter from the adjudicator and a signed introduction from CEO David Buxton, here: http://bda.org.uk/News/175
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Philippa
July 18, 2014
Agnes does have Facebook group- it’s closed though
CJ
July 18, 2014
My vote would be with Terry.
CJ ( Totally Deaf & Tinnitus )
Linda Richards
July 18, 2014
My vote is firmly with Terry Riley. The BDA needs continued stability during these times (financial, cuts, pension issues, direction, etc). I would like to see Sylvia on the Board first and for her to make sure she knows what’s happening internally before taking on the role of Chair and that’s why I can’t vote for her as Chair this time round. Hopefully Sylvia will have a role in future but for now, it has to be Terry. LMR xx
Linda Richards
July 20, 2014
Looking at the different comments ( here and on FB) about the election for the position of BDA Chair, I wish there was a chance for each candidate for the post of BDA Chair to answer a set of fixed questions – eg..
What is the BDA doing well – what is it good at?
What doesn’t the BDA do well?
How would you support the CEO and BDA staff?
What are the priorities in the BSL Community?
What are the priorities with the government and other political groups?
How will BDA deal with project funding and fundraising?
What is your plan for the next 1, 3, 5, and 10 years?
What experience do you have at management level?
What experience do you have at devising strategy and how do you encourage members to get involved?
What budgeting/financial experience do you have?
What size budgets have you been responsible for and in what capacity?
What would you keep the same about the BDA and what changes would you want to see?
Do you have a clean DBS?
Have you been involved in any activities which may be detrimental to the BDA or the Deaf Community? (Eg Hearts scam, AtW fraud, other).
What experience do you have of working with other groups, organisations or the media?
What, if any, partnerships would you seek to establish and why?
How will you get the grassroots involved in political activity?
How will you increase membership?
And much, much more!
I don’t want a list of what people have done. I want a list of WHAT they will do and HOW they will do it. If there was a debate with all the candidates and it was streamed live, that would be good. Perhaps this could be developed in the future.
I also want to know who nominated the candidates and why they think they will be a good Chair.
I wish the BDA had the Chair and next Chair working together to make it easier to work together and hand over at the right time. I think that is the best scenario. Again, perhaps that can be developed in the future.
We need a strong Deaf organisation. The BDA is our organisation. We must take responsibility for helping it to become strong and to represent us as no other organisation is doing this.
Best of luck to everyone and to the BDA members who are voting!
LMR xx
Editor
July 23, 2014
Please note that following Linda’s comment, we have put 5 questions to each of the three candidates for Chair, and will be putting their responses on our site once we have them! Thanks Charlie (Ed)
Terry riley
August 1, 2014
My responses to Linda Richards questions
How will BDA deal with project funding and fundraising?
Having been involved with the Fundraising group “Friends of the BDA” it brought home to me, that we need to look outside the community for sponsorship / grants and funds to enable the BDA to grow and flourish. Local fundraising is difficult as this impacts on other small deaf organisations and groups, and we do not want to do this. We are facing economic and financial changes at local, region, and national levels. Most of the BDA front line projects are funded by grants, but this is very restricted. We need to find funds to cover those core costs to enable the BDA to function like Campaigning, ATW, BSL ACT, Youth and other work we do along with the organisational running costs. it’s a fact we get nothing from the government, to run the BDA, all the work we do in the community is financed by government grants and projects, and restricted funds, and credit must be given to the staff. BDA Membership fees,do not really cover any costs.
I have had regular meeting with HRH Duke of York and built up an excellent rapport, and we had a successful fundraising event at Buckingham Palace, which I chaired.
What is your plan for the next 1, 3, 5, and 10 years?
TO ENSURE THE PENTION TRUST LIABILTY IS PAID OFF
For me it’s also about Leaving a legacy
Youth
BDAY is now making great strides and I have said how I envisage this work becoming more effective and with the proper support
1) Joint Grants / fund applications
2) Full time BDAY staff member to promote the BDAY and its work in schools and FE etc
Leadership
I was involved in setting up the old BDA Youth workers project in the North West, and this project is where so many leaders of today came though, and this is even more important now with a changing world, and I recognise the dire need for something similar to be set up again by the BDA. I have already said leadership training is vital for not only young people, but others as well as they are the potential leaders of tomorrow.
So I am passionate to make this work, and with the board agreement, set up a leadership-training project linked to the Business and Education sectors with local employers. We now have to agree the parameters of how this can be established and funded
BSL teaching:
I also aspire to bring back something like the BSLTA tutors training, as one of the old BDA executive, who set this up and also was one of the first students of the BSLTA Durham University , I and many others have said this is where we became leaders and pioneers in the deaf world. I recognize not only the importance of giving us an insight into our language but also the confidence to go out there and make a difference. And we now need to take back our language and how it’s taught
Terry riley
August 1, 2014
What experience do you have at management level?
I managed at the BBC a team of 30 staff different diversity and skills, for over 8 years as Editor, and this has given me good management practice, and employment knowledge. I have now with the board support set up a Board Risk Register, (traffic lights system) which importantly allows us to spot where we are going, and if changes are needed, which keeps us on track and enables us to monitor our progress and strategy. This is crucial with Pension Trust Liability, we have to be vigilant.
What experience do you have at devising strategy and how do you encourage members to get involved?
We have commissioned two surveys re the BDA 1) What do deaf people think of the BDA 2 ) What do they want from the BDA. One survey looked at stakeholders one is currently asking deaf people though out the UK , and this will be presented to the BOT September. To do this we need to increase the membership and making joining the BDA something to go for. Many will become involved in local issue as it has a direct impact but not necessary national ones so it’s a balancing act. We have also had away days and brainstorming re the present strategy and the new 2015-18 Strategy
As part of these reviews we are also looking at ADA’s do they meet the needs of how the Deaf community, works and socialises now? A changing need and society require a new direction.
We also need a clear strategy re England similar to the Scottish BSL act and the Road map in Northern Ireland re the BSL/ISL (N.I.) Act.
What budgeting/financial experience do you have?
With my See Hear and BSLBT experience I have drawn up, prepared, monitored, and been responsible for Budgets for the whole series and individual programmes all within a deadline, and under budget.I was in the Old BDA finance committees for many years
What size budgets have you been responsible for and in what capacity?
In my capacity as Editor and CEO On both BBC See Hear and BSLBT, they have been between £1.5 million to £2.0 millions pounds, and I am putting this to good use as Chair of the BDA
Do you have a clean DBS?
YES this was also applied to all trustees when I first became Chair
Have you been involved in any activities which may be detrimental to the BDA or the Deaf Community? (Eg Hearts scam, AtW fraud, other.
AT BBC I was responsible for exposing the ATW scam here in London a few years ago
I have NEVER BEEN IN or SUPPORTED the Hearts scheme. I was responsible when at See Hear for exposing this scam, I made sure all the Deaf members of the team signed a BBC letter to say they were NOT involved in hearts
Terry `riley
August 1, 2014
What experience do you have of working with other groups, organisations or the media?
Having been the BDA rep on CACDP, BSLBT, and other outside bodies, I am well aware of the importance of working with them, I have and will continue to work with groups connected to, The BSL Bill in Scotland, the BSL Act. Continue to have regular meetings with the All Party on Deafness with Sir Malcolm Bruce and also the new chair Steven Lloyd MP. Along with the DWP, Depts of Education and MPs of all parties it’s about spreading awareness and planting the seed
I Have extensive Media experience as BBC See HEAR Editor & Producer and CEO of BSLBT Many TV and Radio and Newspapers interviews. This year I was awarded an OBE for my work in Deaf television and BSL
How will you get the grassroots involved in political activity?
We all recognise the need to change and adapt to the changing world and the Community. Politics is one way, we need to up our campaigns at Government level, but this does not impact on the Deaf in everyday life hence the BSL Charter I have seen this at work and it has enabled the Local Deaf Community to say how they want their services, they are being not only consulted but also becoming advocates for others. This is real consultation and though it comes Empowerment and Advocacy lead by the community but supported by the BDA though its staff and trustees. Hence my desire to set up Focus groups with one aim and once that done to go for another issue, and these must be run by the local communities. Via the Community
The BDA staff have, also produced numerous excellent reports with your evidence, which is fantastic. This is about Empowerment and improving the quality of life at local level. We have ATW BSL Legal Status and hopefully Interpreters standards, which we are about to commission and your views will be important hopefully more at the BDA AGM
How will you increase membership?
Make joining the BDA something to go for. Many will become involved in local issues as they have a direct impact,but not necessary want to be involved in national ones so it’s a balancing act. We have to foster a sense of Unity, we are one all united in our language culture and identity. We need more localised Social activities. More options re information, BDN, IT, we have Community workers out there and we need to create feeling the BDA is always going to be there for them. We need to get them involved in the decision and consultations re deaf services on their local areas, by doing this we hope they will feel they will want to join the BDA again
Many might not need the BDA but there are many that do and will given the financial cutbacks we are experiencing now this will increase. It’s not about working for the community but WITH the community
We need a balance of Politics, Campaigning, and Social activities