West Scotland Deaf Children's Society

West Scotland Deaf Children's Society We provide social & emotional support for deaf children, young people & families. Clubs & events provide opportunities to make new friends.

Our Family Support Service gives advice and guidance through challenges & barriers, helping your child to thrive. We offer help and support for families with deaf children in the West of Scotland, covering twelve local authorities: Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, and Glasgow. We can help you cope with initial diagnosis, help you understand terminology and the professionals you will deal with e.g. the Audiologists, the Consultants. We can help you understand what level of support your child is entitled to in Education whether that be nursery, primary, secondary or further education - main stream schooling or specialist hearing impairment units. We can help you understand what benefits you may be entitled to for your child. WSDCS was founded in 1947 by a small group of concerned parents of deaf children. We now have a membership of over 300 families and a professional membership of 110. The Society is a registered charity (No. SCO12285) and is affiliated to the National Deaf Children's Society. Our Management Committee meets once a month and comprises of deaf people, parents of deaf children and professionals working with deaf children. We have several specially trained support workers (all who have experience with deaf children) who are happy to meet with families either at our office or in your own home. We have special events throughout the year which include a Summer Sports Day, Christmas Party, family days, a Saturday Club,a Youth Group and our monthly Coffee morning at Hamilton School for the Deaf for family and friends of deaf children especially of the pre-school age. We issue regular newsletters to our membership.

A huge thank you to Kevin and Danielle for all their incredible hard work in organising a recent Race Night! It was clea...
14/04/2026

A huge thank you to Kevin and Danielle for all their incredible hard work in organising a recent Race Night! It was clear that so much time, effort, and dedication went into making the event such a success.

Thanks to their amazing efforts, they managed to raise a fantastic £3,509 for West Scotland Deaf Children’s Society 👏

We are so grateful to them and all their support. Thank you again! 🤟🏽

💙 JUST OVER 2 WEEKS TO GO! 💙In just over 2 weeks, an amazing team of 46 adults and kids will be pulling on their trainer...
11/04/2026

💙 JUST OVER 2 WEEKS TO GO! 💙

In just over 2 weeks, an amazing team of 46 adults and kids will be pulling on their trainers to take part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk.

This little superstar might only be 21 months old, but they’re already part of something big. They’re proudly wearing our team colours and reminding us why we’re doing this – because every step we take matters and every donation truly makes a difference.

Our team is walking to raise vital funds, support an incredible cause and show what can be achieved when a community comes together.
Whether you can donate a little or a lot, your support will keep us going when the miles get tough.

Please support us via our JustGiving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/charity/wsdcs

If you can’t donate right now, a like, share, or comment helps spread the word and means the world to us.

Thank you for cheering us on – we’ll be carrying your support with us every step of the way.

Two trustee roles filled – one more to go!We’re delighted to have recruited trustees for our other two vacancies and are...
07/04/2026

Two trustee roles filled – one more to go!

We’re delighted to have recruited trustees for our other two vacancies and are now looking for one final trustee with fundraising expertise to join WSDCS.

If you’re passionate about fundraising, partnerships and income generation and want to help deaf children have a voice and thrive, we’d love to hear from you.

Glasgow (hybrid, some in‑person)
Find out more or get in touch: julie@wsdcs.org.uk

Please share with your networks 💙

A huge congratulations to Siobhan and Laura for completing Hyrox on Friday 13th March! 💪Together they’ve raised over an ...
30/03/2026

A huge congratulations to Siobhan and Laura for completing Hyrox on Friday 13th March! 💪

Together they’ve raised over an incredible £6,000 to support our children and clubs; an amazing achievement. We’re so proud and grateful for to them for their support!

We're Recruiting A Digital Trustee!WSDCS is looking for a Digital Trustee to help us shape the future of support for dea...
24/03/2026

We're Recruiting A Digital Trustee!

WSDCS is looking for a Digital Trustee to help us shape the future of support for deaf children, young people and their families.

If you have experience in digital strategy, IT infrastructure, innovation or governance and want to use your skills for social impact, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll do

• Guide our digital‑first service development
• Support digital strategy & governance
•Advise on innovation & future‑proofing
•Help us develop digital and data operations

Who we’re looking for

•Digital all‑rounder
•Connection to or understanding of the deaf community
•Able to attend occasional meetings in Glasgow

Why join us?

You’ll help shape innovative digital services, influence the future of our charity and work with a warm, committed board focused on inclusion and accessibility.

Apply: Send your CV + a short statement to julie@wsdcs.org.uk by 30 April 2026
Informal chat: Julie Alleyn, 07394 012890

23/03/2026

We're Recruiting: Trustees for WSDCS

WSDCS is looking for a trustee with fundraising, partnerships or income generation expertise to help us grow our impact for deaf children and young people.

At WSDCS, we ensure deaf children have a voice and the support they need to thrive, strengthening communities so they can participate fully without barriers.

What You’ll Do
• Guide our fundraising strategy
• Support partnerships and donor relationships
• Advise on campaigns, grants and income diversification

Who We’re Looking For
Someone passionate about supporting deaf children and families, who thinks strategically and creatively about income generation and can attend occasional Glasgow meetings.

Why Join Us?
You’ll help shape strategic fundraising initiatives and influence the future sustainability of a community focused charity.

How to Apply

Send your CV + short statement to julie@wsdcs.org.uk

For an informal chat: Julie Alleyn – 07394 012890

🌟 We’re Recruiting New Trustees! 🌟Want to make a real difference for deaf children and young people across Scotland? We'...
23/03/2026

🌟 We’re Recruiting New Trustees! 🌟

Want to make a real difference for deaf children and young people across Scotland? We're looking for an enthusiastic, committed Trustee to join our board at WSDCS.

📍 Glasgow (occasional in‑person meetings)
💼 Unpaid voluntary role
🕒 Flexible time commitment

At WSDCS, we make sure deaf children have a voice, know their rights and can take part fully in their communities.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:
✅ Trustee/board or third-sector experience
✅ Passion for the rights and inclusion of deaf children
✅ Willingness to get involved in governance and strategy

What you’ll gain:
✨ Influence the strategic direction of a national charity
✨ Help improve the lives of deaf children across Scotland
✨ Join a passionate and supportive board

Interested?
Send your CV + short statement to julie@wsdcs.org.uk by 30 April 2026.

Questions? Contact Julie Alleyn – julie@wsdcs.org.uk / 07394 012890.

22/03/2026

Final post for Sign Language Week!

There are more than 300 sign languages used across the world.

Sign languages do not simply mirror the spoken language of a country. American Sign Language, for example, is more closely related to French Sign Language than to English, despite being used in the United States.

In the UK, British Sign Language was officially recognised as a language in 2022. This recognition marked a significant moment for the Deaf community and for language equality.

As the week closes, it is important to keep learning, keep raising awareness and keep supporting the Deaf community beyond just this week. 🤟

21/03/2026

Sign language isn’t just for the Deaf community, it’s a powerful language for everyone.

Parents, teachers, interpreters, and professionals use it every day to connect more effectively. Many parents are also now teaching babies simple signs before they can speak.

Research shows that babies can use signs like “milk,” “more,” and “all done” months before verbal speech develops. This early communication can reduce frustration, support language development, and strengthen the bond between parent and child.

Communication is not just about words, and sometimes the smallest gestures make the biggest impact. 💛

20/03/2026

Sign languages are not simplified versions of spoken language. They are fully developed, complex languages with their own powerful grammar and structure.

They use space as part of communication. People and objects are placed in the space around the signer, and that space becomes a living map that can be referred back to throughout the conversation.

Facial expressions and body movement are not optional. They are essential. A raised eyebrow, a head tilt, or a change in mouth shape can completely transform meaning, tone, and intent.

Sign languages also have complete grammar systems, with their own rules for word order, tense, and sentence structure. They are every bit as rich and expressive as any spoken language.

19/03/2026

Do you know how widely British Sign Language (BSL) is used in the UK?

Around 151,000 people use BSL in their everyday lives, including approximately 87,000 Deaf people. For about 25,000 individuals, BSL is their first or main language.

And that’s only part of the picture; many more people across the UK have learned some BSL and use it to communicate.

Each year, around 2,000 Deaf children are born in the UK and over 90% are born to hearing parents who don’t know sign language. Around 1 in 10 hearing parents of Deaf children go on to learn sign language.

18/03/2026

Deaf culture is more than just hearing loss, it’s a vibrant community built around shared language, experiences, and identity.

At its heart is sign language, a rich and expressive way of communicating that brings people together. Deaf culture includes its own traditions, humour, values, and social norms, like storytelling through sign, strong community connections, and pride in Deaf identity.

Celebrating Deaf culture means recognising the strength, creativity, and diversity within the community.

Address

281a Central Chambers 93 Hope Street
Glasgow
G26LD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441412432958

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