Photo: Rinkoo Barpaga

With 2 Unlimited grants for Rinkoo Barpaga and Billy Read Deaf explorer are improving opportunities for Deaf people in the arts and are delighted to announce funding from Awards For All for a mentoring programme to improve employment opportunities for diverse deaf creative people.

Deaf Explorer came together in 2013 to form peer-led group because they share a common experience and concern about the impact on creative individuals of communication barriers. Together they now want to deliver a pilot mentoring programme, called “Breaking Barriers” to find the next group of Deaf explorers. We will  guide diverse Deaf people to success in the arts and cultural industries in the UK and overseas.

Breaking Barriers will be a pilot and focus on aspiring deaf creative people and the topic will be employment. Mentoring will enable positive thinking, build confidence and support actions to make a difference in the lives of deaf people seeking careers in a vibrant diverse creative community, that they do not feel part of, due to communication barriers. Mentoring will focus on attracting deaf people interested in gaining access to the hearing world. Mentoring will respond to the individuals needs and improve life chances by promoting positive benefits of: 1) leadership 2) freelance and self employment 3) the business of social enterprise and benefiting people and communities, 4) voluntary opportunities 5) small grants for individuals and groups. Mentoring will encourage deaf people to move from benefits to employment.

Please use our contact form to find out more