Sign of the times for girl guides

Published by HearFirst for HearFirst in Communities and also in Education

A group of girl guides from Bacup in Rossendale turned to sign language and learnt about deaf awareness as part of achieving their four-week communicator badge.

The girls, aged between ten and fourteen, were presented with badges by their leaders at a special presentation last week at the Central Methodist Hall on Burnley Rd in Bacup where they attend.

The guides have been learning British Sign Language (BSL) signs and awareness about deafness from training specialist, HearFirst. 

The two-week sessions introduced them to BSL and communicate where they lived and what they liked best.  They also heard a simulation of what it sounds like through hearing aids and explored what good communication is when meeting a deaf person.  During the other two weeks, the girls communicated with each other by telling stories and playing games without speaking.

Guide leader, Suzanne Taggart whose daughter is also one of the guides said: “We follow a structured programme which enables the Guides to participate in a number of activities.  To develop their self-confidence and self-worth, learning about communication skills will improve their interpersonal and life skills.

“We thought it would be a good idea for HearFirst to teach the girls sign language but in a fun and informative way and they really enjoyed the sessions.  They learned how to sing, sign and perform ‘I can sign a rainbow’ and they have even been signing to each other.

Julie Ryder, Director and Founder of HearFirst said: “We use the sessions to raise awareness of deafness and highlight what deafness is and how to communicate using everyday phrases and signs.

“Over the two weeks, the girls really embraced the importance of using sign language and how to communicate with deaf people.  All of them did extremely well and I would like to congratulate them on achieving their communicator badges.”

Suzanne’s daughter, Madeleine (10) has been attending the guides at Bacup for over a year and said: “I really enjoyed the signing sessions.  The best bit was pulling an animal out of the bag and then we learnt the sign for that particular animal.  We then sang and signed to the nursery rhyme, Old MacDonald had a Farm. 

“I still use the signs that I learnt during the sessions and I am now confident that I can sign my name and where I live.”

In total, sixteen girl guides have successfully passed their Communicators badge.