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Volunteers at Peterborough City Hospital have been learning a new skill to better support members of the Deafblind community. The volunteers have been learning the Deafblind Manual with help from local man, Jimmy.

Volunteer Jimmy has been deaf since birth and sadly when he was 18 also fully lost his sight. The Deafblind Manual is a hand-based communication system where you spell out the words through touch. This has helped Jimmy communicate with people around him in what can be a very isolating and lonely world.

Peterborough has a large community of deafblind people so it’s important that the volunteers and staff have opportunities to learn these skills as it really opens the world for deafblind people to be able to interact with those around them.

Jimmy comes into the hospital fortnightly to volunteer with his long-term friend JJ, who has worked with people with disabilities for over 20 years. They are available to teach others the Deafblind Manual and will be passing their skills and experience onto other members of the volunteering team.

Professor Steve Barnett, Trust Chairman said: “I met both Jimmy and JJ who showed me how to use the Deafblind Manual, it was a lot easier than I imagined, although I need lots of practice to get my speed up. I think it’s really exciting that Jimmy can teach people the Deafblind Manual and although no qualifications will be gained real skills are being learned, which will make a big difference when trying to communicate with our Deafblind patients and visitors.

Jimmy said, via the Deafblind Manual: I love volunteering and I’m so excited to come each week and help others learn how to talk to me and others in the same situation.”

The Deafblind manual can be found here.