Communication support for deaf and hard of hearing people at Words Over Waltham Forest festival

We are happy to announce the involvement of volunteer communication supporters for deaf and hard of hearing people in the Words over Waltham Forest Festival. We plan to match British Sign Language interpreters and Lip Speakers at a number of appropriate events where it would be useful to audience members. For some events this may mean informal chat to enhance the experience, for others such as author events, it will mean more formalized interpreting. Most volunteers will be experienced professionals donating an hour or 2 of their time for the festival and we are very grateful for that. Events with communication support: (Most likely to be a BSL interpreter)

E17 Storywalk, Saturday 2 November 11am-1pm

Bumper Fun Day at The Mill, Saturday 2 November 10am-6pm Dorothy Koomson at Walthamstow Library, Friday 8 November 7pm-9pm Kate O'Hearn at Wood Street Library, Saturday 9 November 12.30pm-1.30pm Kate O'Hearn at North Chingford Library, Saturday 9 November - 3.30-4.30pm Words to Music at the Warrant Officer, Saturday 9 November - 6pm-8pm

This is all thanks to the exceptionally hard work of a local volunteer, Tim Reedy who has used his experience and contacts to bring an added communication perspective to the festival. He has pinpointed events that would suit BSL interpreting and worked hard to find trained interpreters to support and widen communication. If you would like to attend any of these events and are deaf or hard of hearing please email Tim directly to find out about bookings so that we can ensure we match the communication support to you. Events will appeal to a range of ages, so please share this with old and young friends and colleagues who may be interested.

www.wordsoverwalthamforest.co.uk

Contact: Tim Reedy via email timreedy7_@hotmail.com

Words over Waltham Forest

Words over Waltham Forest takes place across the borough of Waltham Forest from 26 October to 17 November 2013. Pick up a programme from your local library and at venues all over Waltham Forest or visit www.wordsoverwalthamforest.co.uk. You can also follow the festival on Twitter @WFWords where you can join in the conversations about events and even get involved in writing micropoetry with the official festival micropoet. The festival is a partnership between Waltham Forest Council and Artillery, Waltham Forest Arts in Education Network, Learning Disability Experience and Apex Arts.

www.wordsoverwalthamforest.co.uk