Social opportunities for people with sight and hearing loss: charity Deafblind UK to launch project across Wales
The charity Deafblind UK is set to deliver a largescale project to improve social connections and use of accessible technology for those with dual sensory loss in Wales. Deafblind Connections Cymru is a four-year project designed to help deafblind people across Wales feel more connected, supported, informed and included in their communities.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, this project will be delivered across Wales’ 22 counties. The project has been co-designed with people living with deafblindness in Wales, and builds on learning from Reconnections Cymru, a post-COVID project which rebuilt confidence and opportunities for connection in the wake of the pandemic.
Rolling out in the coming months, this project will offer a wide range of support including ensuring access to accessible social and wellbeing opportunities and digital inclusion sessions through project staff and trained volunteers. The project will also set up over 100 information hubs in community spaces, and help local organisations become more inclusive and confident in supporting people with combined sight and hearing loss. The multi-year project aims to leave a lasting legacy of connection and support in Wales.
Mike Wycherley, Head of Charitable Services at Deafblind UK, said: “Our recent work in Wales has shown that connecting people to one another, and to services and information is essential for wellbeing.
“People living with dual sensory loss can face personal challenges with isolation, confidence, motivation and mobility. We initially launched our previous Wales project in the wake of the pandemic, in a world where we needed to rebuild opportunities for connection. We have found that with the right support, people are able to achieve their goals; whether that’s continuing with a hobby despite changes in their vision or hearing, accessing local businesses and services, or trying something new altogether – it is up to them.
“Whether through technology, social activities, information hubs or simply having someone to talk to, Deafblind Connections Cymru will help ensure that no one is left feeling isolated.”
Deafblind UK encourages partners, local groups, and community organisations across Wales to get involved and help build a more accessible, connected future.
About deafblindness
Deafblindness is the loss of sight and hearing to the point where your communication, mobility and ability to access information are impacted. This includes ‘progressive’ sight and hearing loss; where your sight and hearing may deteriorate over a period of time. Deafblindness is often also referred to as ‘dual sensory loss’ or ‘dual sensory impairment’.
It is estimated that there are nearly 450,000 deafblind people in the UK. This is expected to increase to over 600,000 by 2030. This is partly due to our ageing population and higher rates of survival for premature babies. Deafblindness affects people of all ages, including children and young people, but it is more common in older people as our sight and hearing naturally decline as we get older.
About Deafblind UK
Deafblind UK is a charity that supports people to live better with sight and hearing loss.
The charity is approaching its hundredth year in operation, and delivers a range of practical and emotional support with everything from assisted living to social connections and advice on assistive technologies.
Cyfleoedd cymdeithasol i bobl sy’n colli eu clyw a’u golwg: elusen Deafblind UK i lansio prosiect ledled Cymru
Mae elusen Deafblind UK ar fin cyflwyno prosiect ar raddfa fawr i wella cysylltiadau cymdeithasol a’r defnydd o dechnoleg hygyrch ar gyfer y rheini sy’n colli eu clyw a’u golwg yng Nghymru. Mae Deafblind Connections Cymru yn brosiect pedair blynedd sydd wedi’i gynllunio i helpu pobl ddall fyddar ledled Cymru i deimlo’n fwy cysylltiedig, eu bod yn cael eu cefnogi, eu hysbysu a’u cynnwys yn eu cymunedau.
Diolch i gyllid gan Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol, bydd y prosiect hwn yn cael ei ddarparu ar draws y 22 sir yng Nghymru. Mae’r prosiect wedi cael ei gynllunio ar y cyd â phobl sy’n byw gyda dallfyddardod yng Nghymru, ac mae’n adeiladu ar yr hyn a ddysgwyd o brosiect Reconnections Cymru – prosiect ôl-COVID a ailadeiladodd hyder a chyfleoedd ar gyfer cysylltu yn sgil y pandemig.
Bydd y prosiect hwn, sy’n cael ei gyflwyno dros y misoedd nesaf, yn cynnig amrywiaeth eang o gymorth, gan gynnwys sicrhau mynediad at gyfleoedd llesiant a chymdeithasol hygyrch a sesiynau cynhwysiant digidol drwy staff y prosiect a gwirfoddolwyr hyfforddedig. Bydd y prosiect hefyd yn sefydlu dros 100 o ganolfannau gwybodaeth mewn mannau cymunedol, ac yn helpu sefydliadau lleol i fod yn fwy cynhwysol a hyderus wrth gefnogi pobl sy’n colli eu clyw yn ogystal â’u golwg. Nod y prosiect aml-flwydd yw gadael gwaddol parhaol o gysylltiad a chefnogaeth yng Nghymru.
Dywedodd Mike Wycherley, Pennaeth Gwasanaethau Elusennol Deafblind UK: “Mae ein gwaith diweddar yng Nghymru wedi dangos bod cysylltu pobl â’i gilydd, ac â gwasanaethau a gwybodaeth, yn hanfodol ar gyfer llesiant.
“Gall pobl sy’n colli eu clyw a’u golwg wynebu heriau personol o ran teimlo’n ynysig a cholli eu hyder, eu cymhelliant a’u gallu i symud o gwmpas. Yn wreiddiol, fe wnaethom lansio ein prosiect blaenorol yng Nghymru yn sgil y pandemig, mewn byd lle’r oedd angen i ni ailadeiladu cyfleoedd ar gyfer cysylltu. Gyda’r gefnogaeth briodol, rydyn ni wedi gweld bod pobl yn gallu cyflawni eu nodau; boed hynny drwy barhau â hobi er gwaethaf newidiadau yn eu clyw neu eu golwg, cael gafael ar fusnesau a gwasanaethau lleol, neu roi cynnig ar rywbeth newydd sbon – beth bynnag maen nhw eisiau ei wneud.
“Bydd Deafblind Connections Cymru yn helpu i sicrhau nad oes neb yn teimlo’n ynysig, p’un a yw hynny drwy dechnoleg, gweithgareddau cymdeithasol, canolfannau gwybodaeth neu drwy gael rhywun i siarad â nhw”.
Mae Deafblind UK yn annog partneriaid, grwpiau lleol a mudiadau cymunedol ledled Cymru i gymryd rhan a helpu i greu dyfodol mwy hygyrch a chysylltiedig.
Gwybodaeth am ddallfyddardod
Mae dallfyddardod yn golygu colli’r clyw a’r golwg i’r pwynt lle mae hyn yn effeithio ar eich gallu i gyfathrebu, symud o gwmpas a chael gafael ar wybodaeth. Mae hyn yn cynnwys colli’r clyw a’r golwg ‘yn gynyddol’; lle gallai eich clyw a’ch golwg ddirywio dros gyfnod o amser. Cyfeirir at ddallfyddardod yn aml fel ‘colli’r clyw a’r golwg’ neu ‘amhariad ar y clyw a’r golwg’.
Amcangyfrifir bod bron i 450,000 o bobl ddall fyddar yn y DU. Disgwylir i hyn gynyddu i dros 600,000 erbyn 2030. Mae hyn yn rhannol oherwydd ein poblogaeth sy’n heneiddio a chyfraddau goroesi uwch ar gyfer babanod cynamserol. Mae dallfyddardod yn effeithio ar bobl o bob oed, gan gynnwys plant a phobl ifanc, ond mae’n fwy cyffredin mewn pobl hŷn wrth i’n clyw a’n golwg ddirywio’n naturiol wrth i ni heneiddio.
Gwybodaeth am Deafblind UK
Mae Deafblind UK yn elusen sy’n cefnogi pobl i fyw’n well gyda cholli eu clyw a’u golwg.
Mae’r elusen yn tynnu at ei chanfed blwyddyn o weithredu, ac mae’n darparu amrywiaeth o gymorth ymarferol ac emosiynol gyda phopeth, o lety â chymorth i gysylltiadau cymdeithasol a chyngor ar dechnolegau cynorthwyol.
