SENSE @ DF Camp

Sense, the UK’s leading charity working with and on behalf of deafblind people, has been working over the last year with a number of youth organisations to look at ways in which they could get deafblind young people more involved in their activities. Deafblind young people have both significant sight and hearing loss. Many also have additional physical or intellectual disabilities. These impairments cause significant communication issues, and many rely on specialist one to one support to enable them to participate in social and cultural activities.

Sense and Woodcraft Folk have developed a fantastic relationship, and a Sense member, Simon Crisp, has recently took part in DF Taster Camp. Simon is 19. He has camped regularly before with his family at Glastonbury and other music festivals. Simon likes music and meeting new people, so was eager to get involved.

On the first weekend in August Simon and two support workers went to the Blackhills Scout Camp near Bingley in Yorkshire. Alongside 80 Young people, some DFs and others also seeing what a DF Camp is all about, Simon took part in two days of varied activities, including field games and singing.

Simon said, “I really enjoyed the camp. I loved being in the tent and sitting by the campfire.”

If any of you reading this, DF, WCF Leader or otherwise would like to learn more about how they can include deafblind young people in their group they should contact Jim Lewis at jim.lewis@sense.org.uk or by calling Jim on 0207 014 9373.

Visit the sense website HERE