A national awards ceremony has recognised the UK’s most inspirational educators of deaf people and deaf communication.
Durham based Signature charity host the Signature Annual Awards every year to celebrate people across the UK who are involved in providing a positive impact on the lives of some of the 11 million deaf and hard of hearing people living in the country.
Over 110 guests attended the formal awards at Prospero House in London where eight award winners including teachers, schools, businesses, business owners and interpreters, collected their accolades. Each winner was commended for their dedication to providing training, education and support to deaf people and the general public, whilst improving opportunities and inclusion for those with hearing impairments.
Signature executive director Lindsay Foster said: “This year, we focussed on ‘educators’, including new and experienced teachers of British Sign Language. We also celebrated teachers of the deaf, groups or individuals in the local community who create exciting learning opportunities for deaf and hearing impaired people, and business people who are improving customer service for deaf and deafblind people through staff training.
“We are impressed every year by the amazing stories that are uncovered through our awards and it gives us great pleasure in being able to celebrate the fantastic work that is being done to promote and improve deaf communication across the UK.”
Seven winners were presented with an award on the evening including; teaching assistant Annalee Green, from York, who was awarded the Educational Support Award; Enriching the Student Experience winner, teacher Ayesha Gavin, who works across the North West; Leadership in Education winner, lecturer Celia Ohagan from Northern Ireland; Training Initiative winner, John LewisYork; Communication Champion award winner interpreter Pascale Maroney, from Bristol; Emerging Teacher award Zayne Thompson, from Herfordshire and Transforming Lives through Education winner Rawdon Littlemoor Pimary School, Leeds. The late Sara Scanlon was honoured with a posthumous Signature Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her commitment to improving the way that lipspeakers work and how lipspeaking is understood by the wider community.
Signature is a deaf and deafblind charity and the leading provider of British Sign Language (BSL) and other deaf and deafblind qualifications in the UK. The charity recently launched its search for the country’s most inspirational people involved in educating and training the deaf and deafblind community.
To find out more information about all of the Signature Annual Award winners please visit – www.signatureannualawards.org.uk