Sign2Sing

Transforming the lives of Deaf people

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Hollie’s sign2sing lyrics impress judges

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Hollie Budding songwriters from across the country have been helping write our new sign2sing song for 2016.   In a new competition, we asked schools to come up with lyrics for a song on the theme of ‘Kindness – a language we can all share’. We had a fantastic response with children coming up with some really inspiring words about being kind to others and stopping bullying.

Eleven year old Hollie Williams, a pupil at Baden Powell and St Peter’s Junior School in Poole, impressed judges from SignHealth and Bottle Top Music with her powerful lyrics.

Hollies’s lyrics remind people that we are all the same underneath and should treat one another with kindness and compassion:

“Reach out your hand
To someone today
Let kindness lead the way
People we are all the same”

“I love sign2sing and I like to sign’ says Hollie ‘My mum signs at work and has been teaching me’”

Hollie will now meet the songwriters and feature in a special recording of the 2016 song and video. She’ll also see her lyrics featured on the sign2sing website and on marketing materials.

Who knows? It could be the start of a songwriting career for Hollie. You heard it here first!

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The sign2sing team visited Archbishop Sumner Primary School in Lambeth with a special thank you for raising a staggering £1,045.50 to help vulnerable Deaf people. The team took part in the school’s end of term assembly, presenting pupils with a special certificate and £100 in book tokens for the school.  Archbishop Sumner were the top fundraisers for sign2sing 2015 and staff and pupils have plenty of great tips for other schools.

archbishop12The school has a reputation for musical excellence so music teacher Adina Presman knew the children would enjoy learning the songs. The children also have deaf classmates, so they were also keen to learn signs to help them communicate with their friends.

 

There are lots of useful resources on the sign2sing website to help you learn the signs and songs. 

Adina Presman, Music Teacher

 

Adina challenged the children to each raise just £5:

“I told them if they each raised £5, as a school we could raise over £1, 000 to help deaf children. I offered a prize to the pupil who raised the most money and the children got very competitive.’”

To help them reach their ambitious goal, the children took part in a sponsored silence. This involved everyone keeping quiet for half an hour – no mean feat for a small child!

Adina says it’s easy for other schools to follow Archbishop Sumner’s example:

“There are lots of useful resources on the sign2sing website to help you learn the signs and songs. The songs are brilliant and the videos are great. You don’t need specialist knowledge – any teacher can teach the songs. It takes just a few minutes out of assembly for a week or so and I guarantee you’ll have lots of fun!”

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Pic Mick Gell , Signhealth record breaking attempt at Bishops Down Primary School Tunbridge Wells 8th Feb 2012.

Across the UK and beyond, children have been signing and singing to raise funds to help Deaf people. And what a fantastic job they’ve done! Since sign2sing began five years ago, 558,495 people have taken part, learning about British Sign Language and some of the issues that affect Deaf people.

Their fantastic efforts mean we can continue our important work with vulnerable deaf adults and children, including for example, our award winning work with abused women and children, and supporting extremely deprived families in Uganda.

This year Archbishop Sumner Primary School in Lewisham raised a whopping £1045.50, making them our top fundraisers. Along with prize draw winners North Cave Primary in North Humberside, they’ll be receiving £100 in book tokens. Congratulations to both schools!

 

sign2sing_logo_v2_60mmWe’re really looking forward to sign2sing 2016. We’ve got a great new song for you to learn. You can also be a record breaker as, once again, we try to break the world record for the most people singing a song using sign language.

We’ll be announcing the exact date in 2016 soon so watch the website and our Twitter and Facebook accounts for more news on how you can sign up to be part of sign2sing.

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Great-Miss-boy-with-red-and-grey-stripy-scarfWould you like to help us write a song that will be sung and signed by thousands of children across the UK and overseas?

Would you like the chance to meet the songwriters AND appear in the video?

Imagine writing a song that will be sung by thousands of children in the UK and overseas to raise funds to help Deaf children and adults.  Take part in our great competition to help write the new sign2sing song for the chance to win a great prize.

 

The Theme: Kindness – A Language We All Can Share

This year’s song is going to be all about how we can play a part in stopping bullying – something that affects Deaf and hearing children.  That’s why we need YOUR help writing teh song.

The children who send in the best ideas will be invited to meet the songwriters AND they’ll appear in the video and any promotional materials.

So what are you waiting for?  Send us us your ideas by 26th June for your chance to win

To enter, here’s what to do:

  • Come up with four lines for a verse/chorus with words based on what we can all do to stop the bullies, what we can say to someone who is bullied and how to help them.
  • Send the entries by email to sign2sing@signhealth.org.uk by Friday 26th June 2015.
  •  Please include your name, age (if under 18), school name and address with contact details including email address and phone number.

Good luck!  We can’t help to see your fantastic ideas!

Competition Rules:

1. The closing date for entries is 26th June 2015.

2. Entries must be the original work of the author and previously unpublished.

3. Copyright remains with the entrant, however SignHealth has the right to use all works submitted in perpetuity and without a fee.

4. The judges’ decision is final.

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Great-Miss-boy-with-red-and-grey-stripy-scarfDid you know this week is Deaf Awareness Week (4-10 May)?   The week is organised by the UK Council on Deafness, who have made the theme this year ‘Connect and Communicate.’

Promoting Deaf Awareness is important not just during Deaf Awareness Week but all year round.  Would your school like to get involved?   Here are some great ideas to get you started:

 

  • Raise money for sign2sing at your school summer fete.
  • Perform one of our fantastic sign2sing songs at your school concert and have a collection for sign2sing.
  • Sell some cupcakes, have a sponsored sports day or try one of our other brilliant fundraising ideas.

 

 

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Toro and his Starbucks team are true sign2sing ambassadors, now sharing coffee shop themed BSL tutorials via Wharf magazine.

toro-teachingcappucino

 

 

 

 

Toro Manca, store manager of Starbucks Canary Wharf and a level 3 BSL signer himself, began learning sign language 5 years ago after serving Deaf customers in the Westfield Shepherds Bush branch.

“I thought it would be good to be able to interact more easily with Deaf people and I was inspired to learn sign language.”

Starbucks-signingHaving more awareness of the Deaf community, Toro worked alongside RAD to employ two Deaf members of staff. At the same time he discovered sign2sing, introducing it to his branch to bring his staff together. 

Starbucks’ involvement with SignHealth has been a fantastic success, with their sign2sing video reaching thousands of people. Thanks to Toro’s work, we have also visited the European Starbucks Headquarters to introduce the life-changing services we provide, and show how the money raised supports Deaf people.