On Monday 26 January, counselling professionals, members of the Deaf community and supporters gathered to mark the 25th anniversary of Signs of Hope, Caritas Westminster’s counselling service for people who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing and their relatives.
Started in 2001, Signs of Hope is one of few Deaf-aware counselling services in London and the UK, and the only service in the country to provide faith-based support to clients. Since then, the service has gained substantial recognition within the national Deaf community, as well as developing pioneering practices in Deaf-Centred therapy, collaborating with Deaf professionals across the UK.
Oversubscribed by about 300%, Signs of Hope continues to be a much-needed response to the lack of options available to Deaf people seeking mental health support. Alongside offering counselling and psychotherapy in British Sign Language (BSL) and other sign-supported methods of communication, the service has partnered with the Deaf Counselling Network to train Deaf counselling professionals, and is currently working with Deaf practicioners to create the world’s first ever ‘Deaf-centred’ model of psychotherapy — made by and for Deaf people.
The anniversary event opened with an address from Bishop Paul McAleenan, Chair of Caritas Westminster, followed by speeches by Signs of Hope co-founders Nikki Dhillon Keane and Canon Shaun Lennard. In his speech, Bishop Paul noted:
When we are committed to justice and to respecting someone’s dignity, we keep growing in enlightenment as to how we can advance their dignity and communicate with them so that they know they are respected. [Signs of Hope] wishes not only to provide a service for the Deaf to which they are entitled, but to provide it in such a way that the Deaf community… know they are valued.
The day also included reflections by Deaf practicioners Trudi Collier and Victoria Nelson on the history and future of Deaf therapy in the UK, as well as time for attendees to network and celebrate together.
In his closing remarks, Richard Harries, Director of Caritas Westminster, reflected:
We’ve heard today that Deaf people deserve therapy in their own language, that we need to become a Deaf-led service, and that Signs of Hope started from a single relationship and must always remain a relational service. I completely agree. Signs of Hope has supported so many people… and we look forward in confidence to the next 25 years.
Reflecting on the occasion, Nikki Dhillon Keane commented:
It has been so emotional to reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved over the last 25 years, and to celebrate with the people who have supported us to get where we are now. We are honoured by the support of Caritas Westminster, the Deaf community and Deaf therapists, and I am excited to see how Signs of Hope evolves in the year to come.
