An Interview with Alison Hawes, Chair of East Midlands Deaf Badminton Club (BSL)

Hi! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role? 

I’m Alison Hawes, and I’m the Chairperson of East Midlands Deaf Badminton Club (EMDBC). I’ve been involved with the club since it began, and I oversee how the club runs day to day, alongside our committee.

When was the club founded, and by who?

The club was founded in 2019 by myself and Lisa Warnock. We originally set it up as Nottingham Deaf Badminton Club (NDBC), focused on bringing deaf players together in the Nottingham area. 

In 2023, we changed our name to East Midlands Deaf Badminton Club (EMDBC) to better reflect the wider area we now serve. 

Thomas G, who used to play for Hayes, got in touch with us around this time, which helped prompt the change and broaden our reach across the East Midlands.

How many members do you have currently? Can you tell us a bit about them?

We currently have 31 members. People travel from across the East Midlands to join us, including Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester, which shows just how much demand there is for a club like ours in the region. 

As a deaf club, all our communication takes place in British Sign Language (BSL), which means everyone can take part fully, whether they’re chatting on court, learning a new skill, or catching up socially.

Aside from exercise, what are the benefits people get from attending the club?

Beyond the physical side of badminton, the club offers huge benefits for wellbeing and socialising. For a lot of our members, it’s one of the only regular opportunities they have to spend time with other deaf people in a relaxed, social setting. 

It gives people a sense of belonging and community that can be hard to find elsewhere.

How often do you meet, and have tournaments?

We meet every Tuesday from 7pm to 10pm, which gives our members a consistent, reliable time each week to look forward to. As a club, we’ve attended two external tournaments so far, competing against other clubs, and we also organise internal tournaments among our own members, which are a great way to build friendly competition and camaraderie.

What levels do you play at? How do you support beginners?

Our members range from complete beginners to competitive-level players, and that mix is really important to us — everyone is welcome, no matter their experience. 

New players are actively encouraged to join, and we make sure the club is a place where people can progress at their own pace, learning alongside more experienced members.

Are you currently fundraising?

Yes, we’re always looking at ways to fundraise to support the club’s activities and growth. We’ve tried scratch cards and raffles in the past, and we’ve got an inflatable course event coming up, where we’ll be raising funds through sponsorship. 

We also have a number of other fundraising ideas in the pipeline that we’re hoping to develop and launch in the future.

What advice would you give to deaf people wanting to join but feeling nervous or unsure?

Our advice would be: don’t worry, and come and give it a go. We’re a very open and friendly club, and we genuinely welcome new players with open arms. 

If you’ve never picked up a racket before, that’s absolutely fine — we’ll pair you with an experienced player who can show you the basics, from the rules of the game to how to serve and rally. Everyone at the club is treated equally, so there’s no pressure and no judgement, just support.

How can people support your club?

The easiest ways to support us are to follow us on social media and help spread the word within the local deaf community. 

The more people who know about EMDBC, the more likely we are to reach deaf people who’d love to play but just haven’t heard of us yet. Every share or mention helps us grow.

How important is the club to the local deaf community and what positive effect does it have on the members?

The club plays a really important role in the wellbeing of the local deaf community. Having the opportunity to socialise and play sport alongside other deaf people matters enormously — for many of our members, especially those who work in hearing environments day to day, the club is a valuable release, a space where they can fully relax and communicate without barriers. 

On top of the social and emotional benefits, there’s the physical side too — staying active and keeping fit through badminton. We’ve even seen members who weren’t confident in BSL grow more comfortable signing simply through being part of the club.

To find out more, drop them a line at eastmidlandsdeafb@gmail.com or check out their Facebook Group  and updates on Instagram too! @eastmidlandsdeaf