0:00:02 > 0:00:05On today's Community Life, Miss Dolly Parton is helping young
0:00:05 > 0:00:09children have a love of books here at Cliftonville Integrated Primary.
0:00:11 > 0:00:12I am getting better at DIY,
0:00:12 > 0:00:17but I think this is one job I will leave to the experts.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19We'll be hearing from Women's Tec shortly.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30But first, today's main appeal comes from a charity that is
0:00:30 > 0:00:34helping to end the isolation of people with hearing problems.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Wendy Austin has been to the Sperrins to meet Hands That Talk.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Hi. Welcome to Hands That Talk,
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Dungiven.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52It's a very special cross-community charity,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55and I'm going to find out some more. Come on inside.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- Hello, Dorothy.- Hello, Wendy.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02- Thanks very much for inviting me. - How are you?
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- I'm very well, thank you.- You're very welcome. Have a seat.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07So, tell me, Dorothy, what's the ethos of your organisation?
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Well, Hands That Talk aspires to have a society where deaf people
0:01:11 > 0:01:15have equal rights to hearing people in every aspect of life.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19- So, do you think that deaf people are losing out, Dorothy?- Big time.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Definitely, yes, they are losing out,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25simply because hearing people... hearing people's lack of deaf
0:01:25 > 0:01:28awareness, and their inability to communicate in sign language.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30And this really needs to change.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32How much of a benefit would it be
0:01:32 > 0:01:35if more people were able to use sign language?
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Oh, it would be a massive change for deaf people.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43To feel included, to be integrating socially with hearing people,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46to have access to information and services,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49all of those things that they don't have now,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51it would make a massive, massive difference to their lives.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53And it has to happen.
0:01:53 > 0:01:58Hands That Talk now have more than 250 people using their services,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02and their very popular signing classes mean more deaf people
0:02:02 > 0:02:06can communicate and connect with life around them.
0:02:08 > 0:02:09So, hi, Pauline.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Nice to meet you.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13You're the information officer here,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16but you also teach sign language classes as well?
0:02:16 > 0:02:18The hearing people in this community,
0:02:18 > 0:02:19they would come into classes here.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22We could have a five-week course, a ten-week course.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24It depends on what their preference is.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25I would organise the class,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29and they really, really enjoy learning the sign language,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32and we also try and teach a wee bit of deaf awareness and deaf community
0:02:32 > 0:02:34within the classes.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36In Northern Ireland,
0:02:36 > 0:02:40there are around 300,000 people who are affected by hearing loss.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44Of those, 20,000 are profoundly deaf.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Rumour has it there's a cup of tea here.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Hi, Avril.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55- Hello.- Now, you're on a work placement here.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57How much of a difference has that made to you?
0:02:57 > 0:03:02Well, it has really helped me refresh my old work skills,
0:03:02 > 0:03:04cos I hadn't worked in such a long time.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08So, I've learnt more IT skills, computer skills,
0:03:08 > 0:03:13and it's given me confidence to go on out and possibly find a job.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17The charity has a holistic approach to helping the deaf
0:03:17 > 0:03:19and hard of hearing.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Every summer, children from families affected by deafness have
0:03:22 > 0:03:25great fun in the surf at Benone Beach.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Yes, they have fun. They get involved in different activities.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33We would have surfing, we would go for beach walks,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36we would collect shells, we would make, you know,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38like, the board behind us, we have made this craft.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41This is all part of the HTT Kids' Club work.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44And it's all about communication and enjoying it
0:03:44 > 0:03:46and reducing the isolation.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50The hearing community, really, what I would like to see is them
0:03:50 > 0:03:53getting more involved with the deaf community.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56You know, learn deaf awareness, learn sign language.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02Also, we would like them to help out volunteering for us, and probably
0:04:02 > 0:04:06getting some donations through this appeal for the things that we need.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10And our place here in Dungiven would be grateful for all of that.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Now, I'm going to nip across to the library,
0:04:14 > 0:04:16where a really special choir is tuning up.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19The road's so busy I'm taking the crossing.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23# Just call on me, brother
0:04:23 > 0:04:26# If you need a hand
0:04:26 > 0:04:31# We all need somebody to lean on
0:04:31 > 0:04:36# I just might have a problem that you'll understand
0:04:36 > 0:04:42# We all need somebody to lean on... #
0:04:42 > 0:04:47Well, obviously, you can hear, but your husband is deaf, is that right?
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- That's right.- So, is that why you got involved?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53That's why I sign, to start with, but, yes, that's why I got involved
0:04:53 > 0:04:56with Hands That Talk, because of Paddy, because of the children.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I wanted somewhere where we could belong, basically, you know,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01because we are a deaf and a hearing family.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05I love singing. I love being part of Hands That Talk.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07And I've been in the choir now for seven years.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12I just love it, like, because it's a part of my deaf culture,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15you know, being able to be with other deaf people and just
0:05:15 > 0:05:18expressing how you feel about yourself through the choir.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19It's really nice.
0:05:21 > 0:05:27# ..We all need somebody to lean on... #
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Well, that was great, wasn't it?
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Now, if you'd like to help Hands That Talk,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36the charity would love to hear from you.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Thanks very much.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43If you'd like to make a donation to Hands That Talk,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46visit our appeals website and click on the donate button.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Find out more about the charity by visiting their website.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Now, she is better known for an amazing music career,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03and Dolly is currently in the middle of a new tour,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06otherwise I'm pretty sure she might have been here today to check up on
0:06:06 > 0:06:08the Belfast children that she introduced
0:06:08 > 0:06:11to the wonderful world of books.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15The postman calls at Darragh O'Neill's home,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17and this is one excited young man,
0:06:17 > 0:06:22as he opens the latest book from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27Dolly's initiative has sent more than 81 million books to
0:06:27 > 0:06:31children around the world to help them improve their future
0:06:31 > 0:06:33opportunities through reading.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35No, no, no! That's a parrot!
0:06:35 > 0:06:39The stories are just so enjoyable, and they've taken so well to it.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42So much so, actually, that the parents are then keen to sign up
0:06:42 > 0:06:43their little brothers and sisters.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Brenda, what do you think of the fact that Dolly,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49this big country music star, has this type of scheme going anyway?
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Well, nothing would surprise you about Dolly,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57and we're just very thankful that she has considered literacy
0:06:57 > 0:07:02to be something that she wants to support with her charitable work.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Parents and schools can find out more about the scheme by
0:07:05 > 0:07:08visiting Dolly's website, and there's an interview on our
0:07:08 > 0:07:12own website which will give you some more information.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17From one classroom to another now,
0:07:17 > 0:07:21and this is not your typical further education course.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24This is one specifically designed for women by the charity
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Women's Tec.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Remove the washer inside it to stop it leaking.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32What we're going to do is take off the top lid...
0:07:32 > 0:07:34'Women's Tec, and the Tec stands for training,
0:07:34 > 0:07:35'enterprise and childcare,
0:07:35 > 0:07:40'has been in existence for almost 25 years, and it's about enhancing
0:07:40 > 0:07:43'employability and giving skills to women in the area of
0:07:43 > 0:07:46'non-traditional trades and work.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50'Our courses are available to women in plumbing, electrics,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53'joinery, painting and decorating, horticulture,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55'information technology,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58'so areas that you wouldn't normally find women working.'
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Well, here in the Women's Tec, it's very women centred
0:08:01 > 0:08:05and women focused, so you are led to believe
0:08:05 > 0:08:07that you are able to do anything that you want,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10and I think when you have that behind you, you do believe it.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11We're all interested in it,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14especially the likes of painting and decorating.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17I have a man in the house, and I swear I'm still waiting on him
0:08:17 > 0:08:20hanging a picture, so this is one of the reasons I came here, you know?
0:08:20 > 0:08:22- So, now you can show him?- Yeah!
0:08:22 > 0:08:26I want women who think that they want to maybe undertake these
0:08:26 > 0:08:30courses or participate to give us a call, to come in and try it.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33We have sampling sessions where it's very easy for women to come in.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36It's a very supportive, nurturing environment,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39and I'm very pleased to say that last year we doubled.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41We reached our employment target twice over.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Lynn, thank you very much.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Check out our website for more details on Women's Tec,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50and find our community notice board for more opportunities over
0:08:50 > 0:08:52the next few months.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Just a reminder as well that ideas for BBC Northern Ireland's
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Playing Our Part Christmas appeal can be found there as well.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02That's it from me and Community Life. I'll see you next time.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03Bye-bye.