Beverley Davies – Development Officer
| Employee | Beverley Davies |
|---|---|
| Job | Development Officer |
| Sector | Education and training |
| Company | School of Sign Language, Blackburn |
“Being deaf doesn't stop me trying new things and I love a challenge. That's why I took on the risk of studying for another qualification, so that I could get a better job”
"It feels like a dream come true". That's what 39 year old Beverley Davies said about her job as a Development Officer for the School of Sign Language in Blackburn. The school is a small company with about seven permanent employees and a team of freelance workers and volunteer workers.
Ideal match
Beverley, who is profoundly deaf, had various jobs in both the public and private sector before she took a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) qualification and found a job that was the ideal match for her skills and interests. She said: “I took the PGCE qualification because I wanted to improve myself and knew I could do better as far as employment was concerned.” As a Development Officer, Beverley works on the training side of the business.
Beverley has faced barriers because of her deafness so feels very passionate about her work with local organisations breaking down some of those barriers. She delivers workshops to schools, churches, community centres and prisons and trains children and adults to use sign language. This she says, enables them to be better equipped to communicate with the deaf community.
Employer’s story
Beverley was the first person to be employed by the School of Sign Language which was set up by founder and Managing Director Debbie Reynolds in 2006. Debbie herself is hearing impaired and understands the barriers and the discrimination faced by deaf people. She also recognises that some employers have missed opportunities to employ deaf people who have skills, abilities and the personal qualities to contribute to the success of a business.
As an employer, Debbie recognised Beverley’s skills particularly in relation to training other people. Debbie also recognised Beverley’s potential to grow with the business. She said: “When I first employed her, Beverley worked mainly with children but then as her confidence grew she started to work with adults in prisons and other organisations.” Beverley shadows more experienced tutors as part of her professional development and will eventually start delivering training to companies.
Award winner
In 2007, Debbie was the silver winner in the Barclays Trading Places Awards. The awards, whose supporters include Jobcentre Plus, were launched as a national celebration of men and women who have triumphed over the odds to set up thriving businesses and positively changed their lives in the process. As an employer, Debbie has given Beverley an opportunity that has ‘positively changed’ her life.
Message to other employers
“Employers need to be more open minded and to give people a chance. If they work with somebody who's deaf, they'll be able to see what they can do. Until they've actually had the experience of working with a deaf or disabled person, they won't know what they're able to do.”
Debbie Reynolds, Managing Director.
Employee's story
Beverley worked hard to gain her qualifications and also gained valuable experience through voluntary work. She is making good progress in her job and taking on increased responsibility. She works both with hearing and deaf colleagues and communicates using a variety of methods such as sign language or the assistance of an interpreter. A multi-function alerting device is used in the main office to ensure that Beverley and other hearing impaired staff, workers or clients can be alerted to telephone and door bell rings, smoke and fire alarms.
Risen to the challenge
Beverley’s job as a Development Officer requires travel across the region but Beverley does not have a driving license. Although she has never before had the confidence to learn to drive, she has now risen to the challenge however and is taking driving lessons. Managing Director Debbie Reynolds, was able to obtain some funding to pay for Beverley’s driving lessons from the Employment Impact Scheme which is jointly funded by the European Social Fund and Jobcentre Plus.
From a personal perspective, Beverley believes that the biggest personal gain she has experienced since she started her job at the School for Sign Language is her growth in confidence. In addition, she draws a great deal of satisfaction from having a job that she believes can and will make a difference to other people’s lives. She said: “I feel so proud, really proud and so much more confident because of my job.”
