Deaf Centre Youth Group (DCYG) is a safe, inclusive and welcoming space for Deaf and Hearing teenagers in the local area. Many of the members come from low income or refugee families and have few expectations of their future prospects. The aim of the Deaf Centre Youth Group is to change that. We connect with Universities and Technological and Environmental organisations. Together we open opportunities to improve our young members’ quality of life and in-session engagement combining companionship with fun and new skills, to give them an exciting insight into what their future could be if they dare to have big dreams and work for their goals. 

They know they won’t be alone. The Newcastle Deaf Centre offers support and mentorship, setting pathways for success helping our young members into higher education or work. Our team will strive to do the same for them all, so that every young person feels valued, nurtured  and supported on their journey of self-discovery and also encouraged to explore their unique talents and passions guided by our values that equip them with the ability to navigate life with resilience and confidence. By inspiring them to think critically, and act ethically these enquiring and caring young individuals are motivated to lead with purpose and are ready to make a positive impact on the world. The nurturing pathway celebrating diversity and recognising the shared humanity sees our former young leaders already thriving in France and Saudi Arabia. Whilst seen as a distinct sign of our International impact it is also a start of our global network of individuals who can thrive without limitations and new architects of stronger and healthier communities in Europe and beyond..

DCYG (Deaf Centre Youth Group) are remarkable young people. Some of the members are Deaf and/or come from severely disadvantaged or refugee backgrounds.  When they first started meeting up, many of them didn’t believe they were capable of going to university or finding good careers. Some of them had never been out of Newcastle.  

We set out to change all of that. 

To empower them we gave them a safe space where they could be themselves and then started asking them to use that support to dare to step out of their comfort zones. We took them to digital art workshops and signed them up to trial new AI technology.   

They then supported a local charity for the elderly by making a film warning about scamming techniques.  This led to them wanting to do more – specifically a film about Deaf Awareness. We invited Digital Voice to come and work with them and over four weeks they met on Saturdays to learn more about filming, editing and producing.  They didn’t just produce the Deaf Awareness Film but also one highlighting who they were and what their passions in life were. Members who had been shy now found the courage to stand in front of a camera and express themselves. 

We visited an Escape Room and, while having fun, everyone learned how to work together to solve problems and find the way out. 

On our next outing we walked across the river and met up with scientists at PROTO Gateshead where the group tried VR technology and learned about creating it. Our aim was to expose them to the world of STEM, encouraging them to think big about their futures and possible career opportunities. 

We visited Newcastle University for a Nutrition and Sports day where the group met with sports coaches and nutritional scientists and learned about the importance of exercise and healthy food choices. This is information that will not only help them in the future but which they can share with their families now, bringing better health to them all. On another visit, the group took part in a Gym and Mental Health workshop. 

The local area has high levels of teenage crime and drug use and so our next collaboration was with the police who held an Awareness Workshop. This helped the group to understand the dangers of county lines and how to stay safe online. The group made visual graphics to help them memorise the information.  This wasn’t an easy day for them as it dealt with some very unpleasant subjects. However, the young people told us that “everything is easier when done together with the people they like to be around; in the space they love”. 

We have now taken two groups to visit Moss Peteral Farm near Kielder and plan to go again. Some members had never been on a train before and most of them had never been so far out into the countryside.  They learned about sustainable farming and the farm to plate journey of their food as well as taking part in experiments to calculate the glacial age of the soil. The weather and muddy conditions underfoot were quite challenging for the groups, but they preserved and are proud of their achievements on those days. We want to give them a greater knowledge of and love for the natural world and so we are planning walking excursions and more trips out into the Northumbrian countryside to broaden their horizons. 

After almost two years, we are now beginning to see how the Youth Group are growing up and taking on new roles and responsibilities. They’ve given back to the Centre by helping to run a raffle and have been leaders at a textiles workshop and at a party held for the younger children.   

Some of their individual stories are remarkable and inspiring.  Charlie, one of our original members, has undertaken training to be a Youth Worker and has been leading many of the group’s activities, giving him knowledge and experience that he can take with him when he goes to university later this year. Three members joined the Centre as volunteers and now help to mentor and support the new Youth Group members when they join. One of them has since been helped into work and another has overcome considerable difficulties and low esteem to take on a volunteering role in a care home while, with our support, winning a place on a Social Care Course at Newcastle College. 

Feedback that we receive from the Group members tells us that they feel ‘happy and safe’ coming to the ‘supportive, welcoming space’ in the Deaf Centre where they are  ‘never judged.’  They have made new friends and really want more sessions soon. 

We started the Deaf Centre Youth Group to give young people an inclusive, welcoming environment where they could dare to dream big and feel empowered as they expanded their horizons and learned more about the world around them. Now as they’ve grown in confidence and knowledge, we can’t wait to watch them fly. 

Our mission is to promote and strengthen local culture and its identity with the direct involvement of children and youth, the young families and adults, together with the elderly members of our community. A programme of our activities include social events, guided tours, trips to the countryside, sport, STEM and nutrition sessions at the University of Newcastle, and Northumbria University, and enrichment workshops (through tech and AI workshops at British eSports and Sunderland Software City) and also sessions on Crime Awareness delivered by the Police. As an international Charity we build our networks locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. In an increasingly globalised world effective communication is a vital skill. Through involvement with the Academic and Tech research we advocate for bridging barriers in communication between deaf and hearing cultures. Recently pioneered AI VR Smart Glasses Technology will result in a roll out of this innovative tech in the UK Cinemas, enabling translation of speech to Sign Language in real time. We work closely with the UK Railway Industry sitting on their Advisory Panel for Inclusion and Accessibility and also collaborate with the local government in the planning and city design decisions - to make local urban places accessible.

This multi layer community engagement create an environment in which everyone has access to various opportunities. Young people see themselves as Europeans who can dream big. The nurturing pathway celebrating diversity and recognising the shared humanity sees our former young leaders already thriving in France and Saudi Arabia. This is a distinct sign of our International impact but also a start of our global network of young individuals who can thrive without limitations and become the new architects of stronger and healthier communities in Europe and beyond.