Draft British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan
About YouthLink Scotland
YouthLink Scotland is the national agency for youth work. We are a membership organisation, representing over 100 regional and national youth organisations from both the voluntary and statutory sectors. Our vision is of a nation which values its young people and their contribution to society, where young people are supported to achieve their potential.
Scotland’s youth work sector is as rich and diverse as the nation itself. Our sector has a workforce in excess of 80,000 – including over 70,000 adult volunteers. We reach in excess of 380,000 young people in youth work opportunities each week.
The activity, venue, and approaches utilised to deliver this are varied – and include youth clubs, youth projects, specialist or targeted provision, social activism, outdoor learning, awards programmes, uniformed organisations, and democratic participation.
As the national agency for youth work, and in our role as an intermediary we have endeavoured to respond to this response in the best interests of the youth work sector, however the views contained within this response may not be held by each of our individual members.
Comments
It is important to note that Deaf and Deafblind children and young people’s rights are set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). All young people under the age of 18 have the rights laid out in the UNCRC and particular articles also emphasise the rights of young people with disabilities. Article 23 states that young people with disabilities (mental or physical) should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate their active participation in the community.
Additionally, article 12 specifies that children and young people have the right to have a say in all matters affecting them. It is positive that there are young people involved in the National Advisory Group (NAG) and therefore in the development of this plan. We would support the continued meaningful engagement of Deaf and Deafblind children and young people throughout the duration of the plan and at evaluation points. This is pivotal to achieving the goals in the plan.
YouthLink Scotland would welcome an explicit children’s rights-based approach for the BSL National Plan.
Education
Youth work is recognised in Scotland as playing a crucial role in young people’s learning alongside the formal education system. A significant proportion of young people’s learning is done outside of the school gates and much of this through youth work. Through engagement with youth work, young people are more resilient, optimistic for the future, consider risk, make reasoned decisions and take control.
The draft plan contains the ambition that children and young people who use BSL reach their full potential at school. Not only does youth work support health and wellbeing of young people, it also contributes to closing the attainment gap. We suggest that consideration is paid to the role of the youth work sector within this.
Crucially for Deaf and Deafblind young people in mainstream schools, BSL youth work provides the opportunity to meet with other deaf peers and develop their own deaf identity.
The National Youth Work Strategy 2014-19 has the ambition that all young people have access to quality youth work. In order to achieve this ambition, the youth work sector needs to benefit from investment in order to support young people who use BSL to participate in youth work. Currently there is a need for Deaf youth work practitioners. Deaf youth workers also provide positive role models for young people, as well as the ability to empathise with their experience. People who use BSL should be encouraged to take up youth work training and supported in their role as skilled practitioners. Additionally, BSL users should be supported in their ambitions to volunteer within youth work.
Post-school education
It is clear from our members that youth work supports successful transitions. Consideration should be given as to how youth work can support the ambitions of the national plan in supporting young people to transition to post-school education.
Health, mental health and social care
NHS statistics show that 40% of deaf children and young people will experience mental ill health compared with 25% of hearing children.Access to quality youth work would contribute significantly to the prevention and early intervention of mental health problems in young people.
Through the youth work approach, young people are able to form trusting relationships with youth workers who support them to develop their confidence and resilience. This furthers young people’s feelings of self-worth and thus improves their general wellbeing. Youth work approaches health in a holistic way, addressing the linkages between health and other aspects of young people’s lives.
We would encourage consideration of the role of youth work in supporting the wellbeing of Deaf and Deafblind young people in the plan.
Culture, leisure, sport and the arts
The plan states that Scottish Ministers will “encourage BSL users to take part in the culture, leisure, sport and the arts as participants”. Evidence from our members has shown that young deaf people do not require encouragement to take part in such activities, rather that there are considerable barriers to participation in these activities. Tackling these barriers should be the priority.
Members told us accessing cinema screenings or theatre performances were challenging because of limited times offered and/or increased cost. Additionally, sporting activities were often inaccessible because of a lack of interpreters. Where possible small groups pay for interpreters but the cost prohibits these groups paying for extended periods.
We recognise the cultural and sporting activities mentioned above will often be provided by private companies and thus fall out with the scope of the plan. We would encourage the Scottish Government to work with the private sector to raise and support their aspirations to increase accessibility of their offer.
Case Study - West Scotland Deaf Children’s Society
West Scotland Deaf Children’s Society run two youth groups catering for 5-12year olds and 12-22 year olds. For many Deaf and Deafblind children and young people in mainstream schools, the groups give the opportunity to meet deaf peers and to take part in activities that are otherwise inaccessible to them. The group is essential for developing social connections amongst the young people. This has been found to be particularly important during the transition from primary to secondary school. Older deaf children help out at the groups, providing positive deaf role models.
The group follows a varied programme including music workshops, snowboarding, photography workshops, ice hockey and visits from external speakers. Mainstream extra-curricular activities are often inaccessible for deaf young people and the group provides the only opportunity to participate and try out activities.Many of the practitioners have come through the youth group themselves and support the group as sessional staff.
The groups also provide whole family support by giving parents an opportunity to network with other families and also respite.
Funding to access external outings and facilitate external speakers is a barrier. The group needs to hire interpreters for various activities where no BSL instructor is available. This is costly and can limit the opportunities for the young people.
For further information, please contact Emily Beever, Senior Development Officer (Policy and Research) or 0131 313 6815.
YouthLink Scotland, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5EZ
Company Number: 164547 Scottish Charity SC003923