Welcome to Nottinghamshire Deaf Society
We are a registered charity based in Nottingham.
NDS supports many deaf people across the county and region with a range of services – including BSL interpreting, welfare rights advice, advocacy, and by supporting deaf community groups.
Welfare
The Welfare Rights Service helps deaf and hard-of-hearing people access welfare benefits and services in their preferred language, whether that’s British Sign Language or English.
Interpreting & Communication Services
All our in-house interpreters, lipspeakers and the freelance interpreters we use are highly trained and officially registered.
Training
Want to learn British Sign Language or become more deaf aware? Have a look at our training pages to see what we do.
Employment
The employment support delivered by native British Sign Language users is available through group work and one-to-one support.
Community
We offer a range of community groups, coffee mornings and support work for deaf, hard-of-hearing and deafblind people.
Advocacy
Our advocacy services aim to encourage and boost confidence in deaf people, ensuring access to key information without facing barriers.
About Us
Nottinghamshire Deaf Society (NDS), is a registered charity based on Forest Road West.
The success of the charity today is built on the wonderful history and rich culture of the deaf community. We have an enviable reputation for providing community outreach for 400 deaf service users from our centre on Forest Road West.
We give deaf people access to a range of tailored information and support services – such as welfare benefits advice, training, advocacy services and community-led groups. With a team of British Sign Language interpreters on hand to provide vital support in times of crisis and need, NDS really is a bridge between a hearing and a deaf world.
Our vision
We have a vision for a society in which all deaf people can fully participate.
Our mission
Our mission is to improve the social inclusion and wellbeing of deaf people across the East Midlands.
Our values
Our values underpin all we do and how we behave as an organisation and as individuals.
Testimonials
Find out what everyone is saying about us.
I’ve been using this centre for decades, I have learnt so much from those I have met here, it has shaped my life and helped me achieve fulfilment. I want to carry this on, supporting and helping other deaf people, encouraging them that they too can be a success and feel fulfilled.Christine Townsend
I found the whole course very interesting and enlightening. I feel more aware of what I need to do to communicate and what to remember a deaf/hard of hearing person may be experiencing.NHCT Staff Member Feb 2014
We have always found that Nottinghamshire Deaf Society provides a very friendly and efficient service to clients who would otherwise find it very difficult to access the advice they need.Advice Group
It is imperative for us to have access to an Interpreting service and we find the one provided by NSLIS to be extremely reliable and accommodating. The Interpreters we receive are all very professional and friendly with both the individual employee and the section as a whole. Without this service we would not be able to include our employee in many of the section meetings and personal training sessions. Booking the service is straightforward and reliable, to date we have not encountered any late cancellations or problems. Thank you for the service you provide, it is very much appreciatedSenior Assistant Accountant, Gedling Borough Council
I find the team very flexible to my needs. Interpreters are always professional and confidential during jobs. Interpreters are always on time and well prepared in order to do an effective job. The booking team always try to match the appropriate interpreter with the client.Deaf Professional
We really appreciated that you were able to provide Halal meat with vegan options.
Thank you and your team for your support, hard work and commitments to last night’s BSL Charter event.
Thanks for coming to my home to help me fill in my son’s DLA form. I couldn’t have done them without your help.Hard of Hearing Client
Somewhere for me to go, meet friend, enjoy myself.Deaf Older Persons Service User
Lip-reading classes have helped me to understand how to deal with problems. It is useful to meet others like me, as we all have the same challenges.Lip-reading student
The staff on the course really enjoyed it and felt that they learnt a lot in a very short space of time.Nottingham Trent University Union
I really enjoyed today. I found it really fun and interesting.Headway
Being able to meet others and also find out information on the illness I have.Deaf Older Persons Service User
Everyone really enjoyed the course and the presentation of it, thank you very much.Nottinghamshire Police
Thank you so much, very prompt serviceSocial Worker, Nottinghamshire County Council
This has to be the most valuable and eye-opening training I’ve had in a long time. Very well presented.Nottinghamshire Probation Trust Staff