At the Oxfordshire Deaf Children’s Society we aim to provide opportunities for families with deaf and hearing impaired children and young people in Oxfordshire to get together for mutual support and to have fun. We do this primarily through a range of events run throughout the year.
Recently we’ve had pub quizzes, trips to the theatre, drama workshops and soft play - and we are always on the lookout for something new and different.
ODCS and The Project PT, are offering free fun gym sessions exclusively for deaf/hearing impaired young people aged 11–17, taking place on Sunday afternoons in East Oxford: LIFT DEAF YOUTH!
Please click here for more information and to sign up.
To get a sense of the types of events we run, the following have been recent events - free to members;
Members of the Oxfordshire Deaf Childrens Society (ODCS) recently had an unforgettable experience as they visited RAF Brize Norton. The visit provided a unique opportunity for children and their families to explore the base, learn about the RAF's role, and interact with personnel.
The visit was designed to be an engaging and educational experience for the deaf children and young people supported by ODCS, providing them with insight into the world of aviation and the military. The children and their families were given a guided tour of Parachute Training School (PTS), which included having the opportunity to jump from the Fan Descent Trainer, a free-fall simulator. The PTS personnel also explained various equipment and their roles, describing the parachuting process while the visitors were on the back of a mock aircraft.
In addition to the PTS tour, the children had the opportunity to take part in a science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) activity with Squadron Leader Andy Marshall, one the Station’s STEM ambassadors. The children and their families had some fun making paper aeroplanes and the children tested their design at the end with a competition as to which one could fly furthest. Squadron Leader Marshall ended the visit with a tour of the Station’s Heritage Centre, which he curates, to showcase the history and artefacts since the Station opened in 1937.
Sergeant Chris West, Parachute Training School instructor said: "It was fantastic to host Oxfordshire’s Deaf Childrens Society. We already knew they were going to be brave individuals living with hearing impairments, but they all went above and beyond that by trying out our Parachute Exit Trainer, a piece of equipment I have personally witnessed a few soldiers massively intimidated by. I really hope this visit has helped inspire them to explore their interests further, who knows, perhaps even in parachuting?"
Anita Jack, RAF Brize Norton Media Officer, who hosted the visit said: “It was fantastic to welcome Oxfordshire Childrens Deaf Society to Station. As this is something that is very personal to me with impaired hearing it was amazing to have ODCS here on station. It was fantastic to show total inclusion. Many thanks to all who made this day happen, the children and parents had a great time.
Picture Credit: MOD Crown Copyright
Registered Charity no: 297689
A local group of the National Deaf Children’s Society
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