Deafway
Sign Language, Culture, Art, Heritage, Care
Brockholes Brow, Preston
Lancashire PR2 5AL
Telephone: 01772796461
Minicom: 01772693413
Email: info@deafway.org.uk
Volunteer Application Pack
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All of our work whether it’s in the UK, Nepal, Philippines, Uganda and Isle of Man aims to give
D/deaf People equal access to every part of life. At the centre of all that we do is Sign Language,
Deaf Culture, Art, Heritage and Care.
Sign Language
Sign Language runs through the veins of everything we do – all of our projects, services and
activities across the world. In the UK, every new member of our staff attends a BSL (British
Sign Language) Level 1 course as part of their paid induction before they can begin working for
Deafway; then a Level 2 course six months later.
We believe in the power of Deaf people working across international borders – barriers to
communication between signed languages disappear within hours.
We believe that every deaf child in the world has a right to access sign language – they are then
free to choose their own linguistic mix.
Deaf Culture
Deaf culture is such a positive force in the lives of Deaf people.
Deaf culture has so much that hearing culture could learn and benefit from.
The international aspect of Deaf culture is truly impressive, and serves as a demonstration of
the real possibility of humanity living in a peaceful world where our similarities are more
important than our differences.
We believe that it should be the right of every deaf child in the world to be given access to sign
language, to Deaf culture and to the Deaf community.
Deaf Art
Every culture and every language in the world have forms of artistic expression which spring
from the particular experiences, views and imaginations of their people.
We ask – Where are Deaf Arts?
Deafway is committed to the development, celebration, performance and sharing ofSign Language Storytelling
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Sign Language Theatre
Deaf Visual Arts
Deaf Photography…..and so much more…..
Deaf Heritage
The history and heritage of Deaf people across the world is continually being lost as older
generations pass away.
So much of the history and heritage of Deaf people has already been lost forever – those millions
of ‘signed voices’ will never again be seen.
Deafway is committed to doing all we can to ensure that from this point forward the history of
Deaf people in the UK, in Europe and in the developing world is recorded, shared, preserved
and celebrated.
Deaf Care
Some Deaf people (just like some hearing people) need additional care and support in residential
or other settings.
Increasingly, statutory authorities responsible for funding such placements fail to take into
account the cultural and linguistic needs of Deaf people.
This failure is totally unacceptable and constitutes a severe form of linguistic and cultural abuse.
All of Deafway’s specialist care and support services have at their heart an understanding of
and respect for Deaf culture and sign language.
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Personal Details:
Title:
Mr
/
Mrs
/
Ms
/
Miss
/
Other
Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………
Forename: ………………………………………………………………………………..
Are you:
Deaf
/
Deafened
/
Hard of Hearing
/
Hearing
Address:
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Post Code: …………………….
Email: …………………………………
Telephone Number: ………………………….
Mobile: ……………………………
Minicom: ……………………………………
Do you hold a current driving licence?:
Car
Yes/No
D1-Minibus
Emergency Contact Details:
Title: Mr
/
Mrs
/
Ms
/
Miss
/
Other
Full Name:
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Relationship to you:
……………………………………………………………………………………….
Telephone Number:…………………………….
………………………………………….
Mobile:
/
B-
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Personal Skills & Interest:
Tell us about your hobbies:
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Do you have trainings or relevant personal skills relating to this application:
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Do you have any signing skills? :
British Sign Language (Level): ……………
Signed Supported English
Makaton
Fingerspelling
Others
Employment & Volunteer Experience:
List your work experience from more recent employment:
Company/Organisation Name:
……………………………………………………………………………
Job Title and
Duties:…………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Company/Organisation Name:
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Job Title and
Duties:…………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Company/Organisation Name:
……………………………………………………………………………
Job Title and
Duties:…………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Have you experienced volunteer work before?
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Agency:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Job Title and Duties:
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Organisations………………………………………………………………………………………
Job Title and Duties:
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Deaf
organisation:…………………………………………………………………………………………
What experience do you have meeting/interacting with D/deaf people?
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After reading through the enclosed information about the services at Deafway, are there any
areas/departments for which you think you are particularly suited and why? (Working directly
under supervision of a member of staff, helping in general admin/finance duties, working one to
one with a single client, fundraising, research, overseeing an individual project, information
technology
etc…)…………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Please tell us why you are interested in volunteering with Deafway including what you would
like to gain from the experience ( Explore the field, opportunity to practice BSL, challenge
etc…):
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Are there any group or situations you would not feel comfortable working with/in? If YES
please give reasons
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Where did you find out about Deafway? Please name the publication / event / website
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Availability:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Notes:
Please feel Free to provide any further information that you feel would support your
application:
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Confidentially:
When someone gives us any confidential information of any kind, be it personal, financial,
medical etc., they need to be sure that Deafway will not pass this information on to anyone else
without their permission. It is also important that people feel confident about giving us
information, as it enables us to give the most appropriate and best possible service users. For
these reasons we ask all volunteers to sign the staments below, showing that they understand
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the need for confidentially and will agree to keep information confidential within Deafway and
elsewhere.
Confidentially Statement:
I recognise that during the course of my work as a volunteer at Deafway, I will learn
information about individuals/organisations that is confidential to the individual/organisation
and also Deafway, and must not be disclosed to anyone outside without the permission of the
person/organisation concerned. I agree to uphold this commitment to confidentially both whilst
I am working at Deafway and elsewhere.
Signed: …………………………………………..
……………………………………………………
Date:
References:
Please provide us with details of 2 referees that have known you for at least 3 years. Suitable
referees could be an exiting volunteer for Deafway, a family friend, a work colleague (this must
be a personal reference,. but should not be a member of family) Please make you referees aware
that we will be contacting them to request a reference.
Reference 1
Title: Mr
/
Mrs
/
Ms
/
Miss
/
Other
Full Name:
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address :
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……
Postcode: ………………………………………………………..
Email: ……………………………………………………………
Telephone Number: ……………………………………………..
Mobile:…………………………………………………………..
How does this person know you? :
……………………………………………………………………………………………
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Reference 2
Title: Mr
/
Mrs
/
Ms
/
Miss
/
Other
Full Name:
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address :
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……
Postcode: ………………………………………………………..
Email: ……………………………………………………………
Telephone Number: ……………………………………………..
Mobile:…………………………………………………………..
How does this person know
you?:……………………………………………………………………………………………
Criminal Record:
Have you ever been convicted in a court of law and /or cautioned in respect of a Criminal
Offence?
Yes
/
No
/
If the answer is Yes, please give details:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Because of the nature of work within the organisation for which you are applying for a
volunteer placement, the placement is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1971, by virtue of the Exceptions Order 1975, as amended by
the Exceptions (Amendment) Order 1986, which means that convictions that are spent the
terms of the Rehabilitation Offenders Act 1974 must be disclosed, and will be taken into
account in deciding whether to offer to offer a volunteer role, however, this may not prevent
you from countering. Any information will be completely confidential and will be considered
only in relation to this application.
Because of the nature of our business you are required to submit a Discolsure and Barring
Service check (formerly the Criminal Records Bureau check). Any disclosures made by DBS will
remain strictly confidential. If you are accepted to become a volunteer in a role where you will
be involved in activities with children or vulnerable people you will automatically be DBS
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checked. This is a legal requirement.
Do you authorise Deafway to obtain any necessary information from the DBS in connection
with this application for a volunteer placement?
Yes /
No
Declaration:
I confirm that the details I have provided in this application form are accurate and understand
that any offer of a volunteer role is subject to satisfactory references and DBS check (if
appropriate) and binding in honour only. Any information that is untrue or misleading may
give Deafway the right to terminate any volunteer placement which may be offered.
In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, I agree Deafway may hold and use personal
information about me for volunteering reasons and to keep in touch with me. This information,
including that contained in this form, can be stored on both manual and computer files. It will
be held securely and only accessed by authorised personnel.
Signed: …………………………………….. Dated: …………………………………………………
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Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to ensure that all job applicants or employees
will receive the same treatment regardless of language used (signed or spoken), age, disability,
ethic origin, culture, gender, HIV status, marital status, race, religion, responsibility for
dependants, union activity, sexual orientation or be disadvantaged by conditions or
requirements which cannot be shown as justifiable. Our Employment Policy is in line with our
Equal Opportunities Policy in that our aim is to attract and recruit the highest quality of
applicants. We are committed to an on-going programme of action to make this policy fully
effective. Please help us to monitor the effectiveness of our policy by completing all parts of the
enclosed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. The information that you provide will be
treated in the strictest confidence and is kept separately from your application form. This form
plays no part in the selection process.
Full Name:
Post Applied for:
Gender:
Female
Marital Status:
/
Male
Single
/
20-29
30-39
Married
/
Divorced
/
50-59
60-65
Widowed
Date of Birth:
Age:
16-19
40-49
Ethical Origins. I would describe my ethnic origin as:
White
Black Caribbean
Indian
Pakistani
Black African
Bangladeshi
Black Other
Chinese
Others(please specify): ……………….
Nationality. I would describe my nationality as: …………………………………………………
Disability. Do you consider yourself to have a disability?
If so, please describe. If none, state
none……………………………………………………………………………………………
Are there any special arrangements/adjustments that need to be made for the job interview?
If none, please state none……………………………………………………………
Should you be shortlisted we will contact you to discuss these arrangements further.
Recruitment Source. Please state where you saw this vacancy adverted o or how you became
aware of it:
Deafway’s Website
Other online source
Lancashire Evening Post
Deaf Club
Job Centre
Internal advertisement
Other, please state……………………………….
Signed: …………………………………..
Dated: ……………………………………………..