Spotlight on: Read My Lips
High Peak CVS intends to catch up with one of our groups in a regular, new series called ‘Spotlight on…’ We hope to discover more about the outstanding voluntary work that’s happening across Derbyshire’s High Peak.
This month, we’re talking to Read My Lips, which is a friendly, supportive group for individuals with hearing impairments or hearing loss. Sessions focus on practicing lip-reading skills, sharing coping strategies and socialising…
- WHAT DOES YOUR GROUP DO?
Read My Lips is a group of deaf/hard of hearing people who really struggle with our hearing – but very much want to stay part of the ‘hearing world’. We believe that learning to lip-read will help us to do this. So, we meet every Friday afternoon during term time for two hours to have tuition from a professional lip-reading tutor. It’s a fabulous opportunity to socialise, share our difficulties and discuss potential solutions. And it’s also a fabulous opportunity to learn about ‘what’s out there’ that might help. We are a welcoming group – with friendship at its heart – and this enables us all to identify with our struggles and frustrations. In honesty, this is really important for our wellbeing.
- WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE?
We hope to carry on our classes indefinitely – but we do need some funding to do so. We’re also looking to gain more members and to become a recognised part of the High Peak health scene. We aim to become self-sustainable, so members do pay a subscription which works out at £5 per session. Nonetheless, we actively look to ensure that this fee is not a barrier to anyone who needs us.
- HOW HAS HIGH PEAK CVS ASSISTED YOUR GROUP?
High Peak CVS has been brilliant. We got help to write our constitution and we have had some small pots of funding, mostly to pay for our meeting place and insurance. We are full members of High Peak CVS and appreciate the information sent to members, particularly the funding bulletins. We’ve used these to identify and successfully apply for several grants.
- HOW CAN ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR GROUP DO SO?
If anyone would like to join us and feel that the group would be beneficial to them, please e-mail Karen at karenrigg572@aol.com for details. We meet at Glossop Central Methodist Church, Chapel St, Glossop SK13 8AT, on Friday afternoons during term time. There is free parking and we are also on the High Peak bus route.
