Sandwell Deaf Community Association

14/10/2025

🔔 Reminder – DeafBlind Support Group 🔔

A welcoming space for DeafBlind individuals to connect, share experiences, and support each other. 💜

🌟 What’s on offer:
🤝 Meet new friends
💡 Share tips, experiences & equipment ideas
🎤 Suggest topics or guest speakers

📅 Next meeting: Wednesday, 15th October 2025
📍 West Bromwich Community Centre, Gayton Rd, B71 1QS

👉 For more information, contact Craig Pothecary, Wellbeing Coach:
📱 Text / WhatsApp / FaceTime: 07791 921011
📧 Email: craig_pothecary@sdca.co.uk

13/10/2025

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

We are pleased to announce that the SDCA Youth Club will take place on Monday, 20th October, from 5pm to 7pm at the Dorothy Parkes Centre, Church Road, Smethwick, B67 6EH.

The Youth Club is for children and young people aged 8–17 years.
If you are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deafblind, or wear a cochlear implant, hearing aid, BAHA, or any other device such as a grommet, you are welcome to join! 💬🤟

Come along, meet new friends, and have some fun! Everyone is welcome — don’t miss out! 🙌

📍 Dorothy Parkes Centre
📅 Monday, 20th October
🕔 5pm – 7pm

ℹ️ Please note: There will be no Youth Club on 27th October due to half term — but we’ll be back on 3rd November and will run weekly! 🎈

👉 For more info or to join:
📧 craig_pothecary@sdca.co.uk

📱 Text / WhatsApp / FaceTime: 07791 921011

💜 Don’t miss out – let’s make new friends and memories!

(video transcription – see below):

Hello, my name is Craig, and I am the wellbeing coach at Sandwell Deaf Community Association.

I am here to share some good news about our youth club. The youth club is for children and young people aged 8-17 years. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or wear a cochlear implant, hearing aid, BAHA or any other device like a grommet, you are welcome to join.

If you join, you can expect to make new friends, share experiences, create things, join in games and have fun in a safe environment. Our first meeting will be on 20th October between 5 and 7pm, and guess what, we will be providing some delicious pizzas.

The youth club will take place at the Dorothy Parks Centre; the full address can be seen below.

On October 27th there will be no youth club, as it is half term, meaning youth club will resume on November 3rd.

If you want more information, have any questions or wish to clarify details, please feel free to contact me via the methods below.

Hope to see you there

Bye

08/10/2025

🎉 Cochlear Implants Group for Children (8–11 years) 🎉

Does your child use a cochlear implant? Come meet other kids like them!

📅 Thursday, 9th October 2025
🕒 4:30 – 6:30 PM
📍 Friar Park Millennium Community Centre, Wednesbury

🌟 Fun, games, friendship, and a supportive space to share experiences and have a blast!

👉 For more info or to join:
📧 craig_pothecary@sdca.co.uk

📱 Text / WhatsApp / FaceTime: 07791 921011

💜 Don’t miss out – let’s make new friends and memories!

08/10/2025

📢 Health Group for Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Deafblind Individuals 💜

REMINDER: You don’t have to be fit or flexible to do yoga! There are many ways to learn and benefit from yoga at your own pace. 🌿

Come on down and join us today at 2pm at:
📍 West Bromwich Community Centre, Gayton Road, West Bromwich, B71 1QS

Learn about yoga and how it can help you! 🧏‍♂️🧏‍♀️💜

Benefits of yoga include:
💜 Improved flexibility & strength
💜 Reduced stress & anxiety
💜 Better balance & posture
💜 Enhanced wellbeing & relaxation

📧 For more information, please contact:
Craig Pothecary – Wellbeing Coach
Email: craig_pothecary@sdca.co.uk

📱 Text / WhatsApp / FaceTime: 07791 921011

06/10/2025

Hello there, I hope you’re all doing well!
I’m here at Sandwell Deaf Community Association, or SDCA for short.
Did you know that SDCA has a Communication Service? This is our very own team of
interpreters, who are all registered with the NRCPD, i.e. the National Register of
Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind people.
They provide both remote and face-to-face interpreting services and are available in a wide
variety of different domains, including hospital appointments, meetings (including work
meetings), and 1:1 settings, to name a few.
If you would like to book one of our interpreters then please contact us on 07885 913225
(call/ text/ video call).
Thank you!

03/10/2025

📢 REMINDER!
🗓 Today – Friday 3rd October
⏰ 11am – 1pm

Need support with the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) Survey? 💊
Come down and get the help you need!

The PNA is updated every 3 years to check there are enough pharmacies in the right places, offering the right services to meet local community needs.

💡 SDCA (Sandwell Deaf Community Association) has partnered with Sandwell Council to set this up especially for you.

Are you Deaf and a BSL user? This session is for you! 🙌

📝 Need support completing the questionnaire?
👉 Come along to:
📍 West Bromwich Community Centre, Gayton Road, West Bromwich, B71 1QS
✨ A BSL interpreter will be available.

Your feedback matters – have your say and help shape pharmacy services in our area! 💜

For more info, contact:
📧 craig_pothecary@sdca.co.uk

📱 07791 921011 (call or WhatsApp)

02/10/2025

👥 DeafBlind Support Group 👥

A welcoming space for DeafBlind individuals to connect and share. 💜

🌟 What’s on offer:
🤝 Make new friends
💡 Share tips & equipment ideas
🎤 Suggest topics & guest speakers

📅 Next meeting: Wednesday, 15th October 2025
📍 West Bromwich Community Centre, Gayton Rd, B71 1QS

👉 For more information, contact Craig Pothecary, Wellbeing Coach:
📱 Text / WhatsApp / FaceTime: 07791 921011
📧 Email: craig_pothecary@sdca.co.uk

01/10/2025

🙏A big thank you to our colleague for supporting this important project on Men’s Mental Health and for sharing his valuable experience. 💜

🏉 Playing for England Deaf Rugby Union was a huge passion for Craig who is now a Wellbeing Coach at Sandwell Deaf Community Association.

🗣️ Craig said: “When I was younger, I was really into sport. Football was tough because my teammates found it hard to communicate with me - but everything changed when I joined a rugby team. They made the effort to include me, helped me build my skills, and soon I was invited to play for England Deaf Rugby, earning 8 caps. For the first time, I felt a true sense of belonging — and I loved every moment.”

💬 Our 'You ok, mate?' campaign is all about getting men in Sandwell talking. Too many men keep things bottled up, and we want to change that. Let’s break the stigma around men’s mental health and remind each other it’s always ok to reach out for support - the earlier, the better 💚

Visit the link in comments for help and support for yourself or a mate 👇

01/10/2025

Transcript:

Hello, my name is Craig, and I am a Wellbeing Coach, here at SDCA – Sandwell Deaf Community Association.

You may have seen from the posters around that we are running a variety of different groups.

On the posters you will find information such as, dates, times and venues where the groups will be held.

If you feel like you’d be interested in one or more of the groups you are very welcome to join us and be involved.

If perhaps you’re not sure which may be right for you, you can contact me via text, email or video call, so that we can discuss it further.

I’m happy to support you and help you decide what would work best for you.
I will also be creating individual posters for each of the group, which will show all the relevant information such as dates, times and venues.

So, look out for those too.

Again, if you have any questions, please do contact me.

Take care.

30/09/2025

📢 Health Group for Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Deafblind Individuals 💜

Join us on Wednesday, 8th October | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at:
📍 West Bromwich Community Centre, Gayton Road, West Bromwich, B71 1QS

Learn about yoga and how it can help you! 🧏‍♂️🧏‍♀️💜

Benefits of yoga include:
💜 Improved flexibility & strength
💜 Reduced stress & anxiety
💜 Better balance & posture
💜 Enhanced wellbeing & relaxation

📧 For more information, please contact:
Craig Pothecary – Wellbeing Coach
Email: craig_pothecary@sdca.co.uk

📱 Text / WhatsApp / FaceTime: 07791 921011

30/09/2025

📢 Coffee Morning – Everyone Welcome! ☕🍳💜

Start your Wednesday with coffee, breakfast, and good vibes! Join us on 8th October, 10 AM – 12 PM at:
📍 Interceptor, Unit 8 New St, West Bromwich, B70 7PP

A friendly space for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind folks to chat, laugh, and make new friends! 🧏‍♂️🧏‍♀️💜

✨ Tea, coffee, breakfast bites, chats, and smiles guaranteed! Don’t miss out!

📧 For more information, please contact:
Craig Pothecary – Wellbeing Coach
Email: craig_pothecary@sdca.co.uk

📱 Text / WhatsApp / FaceTime: 07791 921011