Showing posts with label barry pullen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label barry pullen. Show all posts

Monday, 23 June 2014

Local Granddad Barry Pullen wins learner award and is nominated for national prize

Barry pictured here winning a previous award
Barry Pullen, grandfather of one of our members, has been recognised for his efforts in learning sign language and for his outstanding contribution to volunterring by winning the Learner of the Year Award for East Anglia by sign language qualifications body Signature.

Barry will now be put forward for the national award at a glitzy award ceremony later in the year. Here is Barry's winning nomination.

Barry has been studying the Signature Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language (BSL) at Signing Bee.

Despite initially lacking confidence in his own ability in BSL, Barry is an inspiration to his fellow students. He helps them to practise their signing and is a constant source of encouragement and support. He has taken his learning very seriously and has worked hard to pass his assessments.

Barry has a deaf grandson. Learning BSL has been invaluable to him in his work with the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), where he has been volunteering with events such as Activity Week and their Newly Identified Families Weekend. As part of this weekend, he facilitated a very emotional session which involved the parents of newly diagnosed deaf children telling the story of their journey with their child so far. His newfound skill is also very useful in his voluntary role as a guard at the local railway station.

Barry recently visited a centre for disabled youngsters in Morocco where he met with four young deaf men. Despite the fact that they used French Sign Language, he made the effort to join in, and was told that he was the first foreign visitor who had ever tried to communicate with them.

Barry has received numerous accolades for his continued and dedicated work in the voluntary sector. He received a certificate from Prince Charles and was even presented with an award from the actress Patricia Routledge, the actress who plays Hyacinth Bucket.

A well respected figure in the local deaf community, Barry plans to continue with his voluntary work and to support the NDCS.

We wish Barry all the best at the award ceremony. Thanks for everything you have done.


Monday, 3 June 2013

Barry Pullen MBE is an award-winning role model of a Grandad.

NDCS volunteer, Barry Pullen won a 'Diamond Champion' award last year for his 'Outstanding voluntary contribution to the community. A well deserved award. Barry is well loved and devoted Grandad of one of our members, Daniel Monaf. 

When Daniel was diagnosed as deaf, Barry turned his attention to making life better for all deaf children and their families. Barry tells us about winning the award:

"I went to the Sloane Club in London last October with my daughter Liz Monaf to received the award from Patricia Routledge, well known as Hyacinth Bouquet in Keeping Up Appearances. There were 60 volunteers who were selected to get the award (60 because it was tied in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee). It was a lovely afternoon and Patricia was absolutely charming - very much like her alter-ego Hyacinth!
When Daniel was born I didn't really know how to help Liz and Dean (Daughter and Son-in-law) but with the help of the NDCS and by meeting other grandparents at PDDCS, I found my way!

As pay-back I started volunteering about 3 years ago and have been very involved with the Newly Identified Families Weekends all over the country. On behalf of NDCS I also started giving a presentation "A Deaf Child in My Family" to newly qualified Newborn Hearing Screeners in London and Manchester on a regular basis - I do about 6 sessions a year, normally to 20 or so new screeners, many of whom have no experience of deafness!

When Valerie Copenhagen of NDCS called me last year to tell me that I had been chosen as the NDCS nomination for this award, I was very humbled. My volunteering is something I love to do because at the end of a Newly Identified weekend, it is obvious that the young parents have found friendship, reassurance and inspiration from what they have been told in the various presentations and by talking to the various guest speakers.

The friendship I've found at PDDCS events has been wonderful and I will be ever grateful to all my new friends of all ages."

Thank you, Barry from all of us at PDDCS.