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Community21 has selected some case study communities and projects to share across the network to inspire and inform others. Should we be featuring yours? If so get in touch.
Our Space: exploring spaces to bring deaf and hard of hearing people together
This project undertook research and developed new virtual and physical ‘spaces’ for and with deaf and hard of hearing people.
In partnership with the Universities of Brighton and Sussex, the NHS Primary Care Trust, experts in community therapy and deaf service providers and advocates, it promoted a range of preventive solutions towards health.
The project was funded through the South East Coastal Communities Programme: www.coastalcommunities.org.uk
The Our Space project uses the process of a Community of Practice, originally defined by Etienne Wenger. It centres its concept that the principle knowledge rests in the community, an expertise fashioned over decades or generations. While academics pursues a process of inquiry, the community is engaged as 'researchers'. The end product becomes a solution for all; the community gain academic rigour and the university can present theories already applied in practice.
The membership of this Community of Practice is open to all who believe they have a stake in the group. It specifically focusses on the Deaf community, third sector organisations and academics.
The meetings have two rules:
It is a place to learn something new.
A space for the community to share their passions with their peers.
This approach gives precedence to the community and their contribution(s) while also ensuring that different voices, or signs, are received, accepted and developed. It will be up to the group to proceed further if they wish to. University of Sussex ensures that its resources remain available to the group to take it as far as they wish to.
Our Space meetings are held on a monthly basis and feature presentations from a variety of speakers on issues and subjects which may be of interest to the Deaf community.
The Sussex Deaf History Website, which was launched in March 2010 as part of the Coastal Communities programme, contains information about current Our Space open forums and various community events: Sussex Deaf History Website.
John Walker Senior Research Fellow, Community University Partnership Programme
