Over 6000 people sign up in a week for free online BSL course from Doncaster Deaf Trust

To sign up to the free course visit www.doncasterdeafsign.org.uk

Over 6000 people signed up for a free online British Sign Language (BSL) course within the first week of its launch by Doncaster Deaf Trust.

The online course, developed thanks to National Lottery Funding and released at the end of March, will enable users to learn Level One BSL, and comes at a time when many people are at home with time to spare during the coronavirus crisis.

The first section of the course covers basic signs including greetings, numbers, addressing people, travel and transport and hobbies. The course is not yet complete and further sections of level one will be released in the next few weeks.

Alexis Johnson, executive principal of Doncaster Deaf Trust said: “We are thrilled to be able to launch this free resource for people during this unprecedented time.

“Our team have been working hard to develop the online course and have brought the launch forward so that people who are at home can access the course and learn a new skill.

“Sign Language is a great communication tool for people to learn and we know that there are many campaigns to have British Sign Language taught in schools.

“This course will teach families, young people and businesspeople the basics of communicating via sign.

“We are sure that this platform will also be useful to people who are helping the Deaf community as the Covid-19 pandemic and government measures regarding social distancing and isolation will mean that some Deaf people will need help and assistance and basic sign language knowledge will help massively in making them feel reassured.”

“It is simple to sign up and you can run through the course at your own pace, doing a little each day and practicing as often as you can.

“Huge thanks to Natalie Pollard who is the course designer and one of the signers, Mike Beslin, the eLearning course producer from the Trust and our signers who have worked tirelessly to make this happen. Without the Lottery Funding this would not have been possible, so a big thank you goes out to them too.

“We are looking forward to seeing lots of people sign up to the course and develop a new skill that will help them to communicate with the Deaf community.

“Anyone wanting to share videos or photos of them practicing their new skills should tag Doncaster Deaf Trust Facebook page in their posts,” added Alexis.

To sign up to the free course visit www.doncasterdeafsign.org.uk