Budding scientists in the deaf community are being offered a new way to explore science and the universe.
Newcastle’s Life Science Centre has linked up with the South of Tyne and Wearside Deaf Children’s Society to launch a new science club for deaf children, who often face barriers accessing STEM opportunities.
The launch of the new club coincides with Deaf Awareness Week, 6 to 12 May, a national week to increase the visibility of challenges the deaf community faces and ways to support them.
Thanks to funding from the Ogden Trust, a national charity supporting physics teaching, the free science club will run on Sundays for 7-to-13-year-olds. Activities will include hands-on engineering challenges and experiments, exploring space, buoyancy and electrical circuits.
In recognition of the partnership work and adaptations made in the science centre, Life has been awarded the Deaf-friendly Bronze Standard from the National Deaf Children’s Society.
Life launched its first deaf science club three years ago, teaming up with children at two Newcastle primary schools, and the new science club will build on this successful project.
Life Chief Executive Linda Conlon said: “This latest science club will provide a valuable gateway into science for deaf children and their families and will underpin our commitment to making the science centre an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.”
“Over the years Life has gone above and beyond in their proactive approach to working in partnership and seeking our feedback to make the centre a welcome space for deaf children and their families.
“The sessions we’ve had at Life have been so valuable to our families, providing a peer-to-peer network for children and a support system for parents too, and we’re delighted to have received this funding for a new science club at Life.”