Childcare from the Chesterfield Community
Our Skills and Learning Coordinator Kate shares how she found a solution to a childcare challenge within Chesterfield’s Voluntary Sector.
The summer holiday childcare juggle is a very real issue for working parents. This year I decided to try something new for my two children Delilah aged 9 and Wilf aged 7 and I am so glad I did; they attended a summer club run by Hear Me Out CDCS, known as Camp 22'.
Hear Me Out - Chesterfield Deaf Children's Society was first established in January 2021. It is a non-profit organisation that works with children and young people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, and their families, in the Chesterfield area and beyond.
Phoebe Wallingon, Founder and Chair of Hear Me Out, decided to set up the society after working as a professional in the area. The first event of its kind for the society included an inclusive mix of children; both hearing and Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Over the 3 days the children took part in a range of different activities including archery, arts and crafts, football, mini athletics and even an ambulance tour.
Something that made Camp 22' unique however, was the British Sign Language sessions that were delivered daily at camp. These sessions were Delilah & Wilf’s favourite element of the camp. As hearing children it was amazing for them to be able to learn signs and then use them straight away with their new friends. Phoebe explains ‘The children were so excited to learn new signs each day which ranged from basic conversation, different animals, and colours! It was great to give the opportunity to those children who use sign language on a daily basis to teach their peers new skills!'
Sienna, aged 6, who is Deaf and attended Camp 22' said her favourite activity at camp was 'BSL because I can learn new words and things'. The great feedback continued from Charlee, who is Hard of Hearing, aged 8, as she described camp as 'The best thing in the whole entire history, you have to try it!' Over the 3 days, children developed friendships with each other, with no barrier of being Deaf or hearing. Delilah and Wilf have made friends that they have asked to stay in touch with and I have swapped contact details with other parents. I was looking for interesting and easy local childcare… we found so much more than that!
As the new academic year approaches Hear Me Out CDCS is starting to put together their activity calendar for the upcoming months. There will be a mixture of events for children of all abilities so for those interested please 'like' their Facebook page 'Hear Me Out - Chesterfield Deaf Children's Society' to stay in the loop and register for these events.