Latest news with #BritishSignLanguage
Wales Online
09-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
6 DWP PIP changes you must report to avoid losing your payments
6 DWP PIP changes you must report to avoid losing your payments The DWP is responsible for administering PIP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland A successful claim for PIP can now yield between £29.20 and £187.45 per week (Image: WalesOnline/ Rob Browne ) People are being advised of a number of changes they must report to the DWP to keep a disability benefit. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit available to individuals over 16 and under the State Pension age who require extra assistance with daily activities or mobility due to a long-term illness, disability, or mental or physical health condition. A successful claim for PIP can now yield between £29.20 and £187.45 per week, equating to £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period. Both of these disability benefits aim to alleviate the additional costs associated with living with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition. While many recipients may be aware of the list of changes in circumstances that must be reported to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to ensure uninterrupted payments, there are several changes that do and do not need to be declared. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here . Changes you do not need to report to the DWP Since PIP is not a means-tested benefit and can be received regardless of employment status, there is no need to notify the DWP if you: Start a new job Stop claiming other benefits Change roles at work - unless the amount of help you need has changed Leave a job Are made redundant Take retirement Article continues below Changes you must report to the DWP However, according to guidance on the website, you must contact the PIP enquiry line if: Your personal details change - for example, your name, address or doctor The help you need or your condition changes Your condition has worsened and you're not expected to live more than six months You go into hospital or a care home You go abroad (for more than four weeks) You are imprisoned or held in detention The website issues a stern warning: "You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstance," reports the Daily Record. How to report a change of circumstances to the DWP Before making the call you will need your National Insurance number, bank account details and GP name and address in order for the DWP to verify your identity. Telephone: 0800 121 4433 (option 5) 0800 121 4433 (option 5) Textphone: 0800 121 4493 0800 121 4493 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4433 (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4433 Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users - check you can use the service here. Article continues below
Wales Online
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Code of Silence ending explained: What happened to Liam and Braden?
Code of Silence ending explained: What happened to Liam and Braden? Code of Silence saw Liam Barlow choose between the criminal gang and his relationship with Alison Brooks. Kieron Moore as Liam in Code of Silence (Image: MAMMOTH SCREEN/ITV ) Code of Silence has been airing on ITV and the explosive finale revealed what happened to Liam Barlow (played by Kieron Moore) and Braden Moore (Joe Absolom). The final episode started after the revelation Liam had planned to escape alone with the necklace all along. Ben Lawford (Nathan Armarkwei) was out of surgery, recovering from the gunshot wound, and the rest of the officers wanted to make sure putting his life on the line wasn't "for nothing". They asked Alison to text Liam so if he checked his messages they could locate him, meanwhile Alison and her mum were taken to a safehouse. Braden, who had been on the run, was blindsided that Liam had set him up. While Helen Redman (Beth Goddard) and Joseph Holhurst (Andrew Scarborough) were brought in for questioning. Unfortunately for the team, Helen still had the upper hand and she claimed the heist was all planned by Liam and Braden. Liam wanted Alison to run away with him Meanwhile, a surprising discovery was made about Liam, who had in fact changed his surname since his time in foster care. DI James Marsh discovered the man who was killed in the previous heist, Charlie, was in fact Liam's foster dad, whom he had cared for dearly. It transpired Liam had taken the necklace for revenge, wanting Braden and Helen to pay for what they did. Liam had set up a meeting with Alison and he asked her to run away with him, but she wanted him to testify against Helen and Joseph. Yet Liam, who did not want to end up with a lengthy prison sentence, could not contact the police. Alison was held captive by Braden After their meeting, Alison went back to the Canterbury Tap where she came face to face with Braden. Wanting to lure Liam back to him with the necklace, he held Alison hostage at a warehouse. Before handing over the necklace to Braden, Liam went back to his foster mum to say goodbye as he said he would need to spend his life on the run. He took the necklace to Helen in return for Alison, but, in a twist of events, he had also called the police. While Braden had a gun to Liam, Liam cleverly used sign language to tell Alison 'police, go' instead of 'please go', so she knew the police were coming. Joe Absolom as Braden Moore (Image: MAMMOTH SCREEN/ITV ) Alison couldn't believe Liam had given himself up for her, and on the day of his court hearing, he told her he was continuing to practice British Sign Language. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob, while Braden and Helen had also been taken down for their involvement. Joseph was arrested after being charged with money laundering. As for Alison, she and her mum moved into a new flat for a fresh start, and James surprised her with £50,000 for helping them. He encouraged her to put some of it towards a forensic lip reading course, telling her she would be a highly sought-after asset. Article continues below Code of Silence is available to watch on ITVX
Leader Live
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Circus Starr to perform at Wrexham Memorial Hall on June 7
Circus Starr will perform twice at Wrexham Memorial Hall on Saturday, June 7. The non-profit organisation's shows are designed especially for children who are disabled, have additional learning needs, or are disadvantaged. This year, the non-profit organisation will also be ensuring that each of its shows is signed in British Sign Language. The volume at shows is lowered, lights are toned down, and sensory packs are offered as appropriate to suit Circus Starr's audience. Free tickets are also sometimes offered. This year's production will see the return of ring mistress Mariska Gandey and Brazilian clown Lucas. Joining them on stage will be Nula Hula, with her sensory hoop act, and Duo Opa, who will make their Circus Starr debut with a skating act. Fundraising director Michelle Crossley said: "We love sharing our fun events with those who usually miss out. READ MORE: Connah's Quay dentist to open in Flintshire in September Wrexham man loses seven stone in Slimming World journey "Whilst our show is very visual, it is important to us that those who are deaf can enjoy the performance in its entirety, and we are proud to have the interpreters at each of our shows to help make that possible. "Thank you so much to the kind businesses that help us continue our valuable work." Circus Starr relies on donations. The performances at Wrexham Memorial Hall on Saturday, June 7 will be at 1.30pm and 4pm.
The Courier
30-05-2025
- The Courier
Dundee motorist who tried to hit police with BMW jailed for five years
A profoundly deaf criminal who endangered the lives of two police officers by trying to hit them with a BMW in Dundee has been jailed for five years. George Drinnan, 39, repeatedly tried to strike PCs Matthew Rhind and Younis Yaqub at Americanmuir Road on February 6 2023. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how, at the time, the repeat offender was disqualified from driving and had no insurance. Drinnan – who was found guilty off the offences at proceedings at the High Court in Stirling earlier this year – appeared before judge Lady Tait on Friday. She heard submissions from defence advocate George Gebbie, who told how his client's deafness will affect his ability to communicate with others while behind bars. However, Lady Tait told Drinnan – who had the help of a British Sign Language interpreter to understand proceedings – he needed to go to prison for his crimes. She said: 'The circumstances of these offences mean that the only appropriate sentence is a custodial one. 'The court must seek to deter such offending behaviour.' Drinnan, from Dundee, was originally charged with attempted murder but was convicted of assault to danger of life following a trial. At the start of the trial Drinnan's co-accused, 53-year-old Paul Coombs – also aided by a BSL interpreter – pled guilty to a dangerous driving offence committed during the same incident and driving without insurance and while disqualified. He admitted reversing and striking a parked car, causing it to hit another vehicle, then driving at speed towards a parked police car. Lady Tait previously banned Coombs from driving for a total of six years and imprisoned him for 18 months. On Friday, the court heard Drinnan has previous convictions for dishonesty, driving without insurance and driving whilst disqualified. Mr Gebbie told Lady Tait: 'He is unable to communicate with people who aren't skilled in sigh language. 'This will affect his ability to communicate with others, this will affect his ability to interact with others prisoners.' Lady Tait also banned Drinnan from driving for seven years.
Metro
29-05-2025
- General
- Metro
I couldn't train my deaf puppy so I taught him sign language
Sukie Green had waited her whole life to get a puppy, so when she brought home eight-week-old Billie, she was overjoyed. As he settled into her London home, the whippet-poodle cross proved to be seriously hard work. All puppies are a handful, she knew, but Billie just wouldn't take instruction, and Sukie found him impossible to control. 'I thought he was an absolute bugger. He didn't listen or respond to training and praise,' the 57-year-old from South East London tells Metro. Despite Sukie watching hours of online puppy training videos on YouTube and trying to implement the strategies, Billie would nip at ankles, steal shoes, and roundly attack the family's nine-year-old cat, George. Sukie felt like she was getting nowhere, and it wasn't until early November 2024 when, after three weeks of failed efforts, the penny dropped. That night, fireworks had been making a racket outside their windows all evening, but Billie had shown no response. Sukie knew that most dogs were usually reduced to trembling wrecks from the noise, so there must be just one answer: her puppy couldn't hear. 'I clicked that he wouldn't notice anyone coming into the room. He'd have to smell them before he'd realise they were there. If I suddenly clapped behind his head, he wouldn't respond either,' she recalls. A quick trip to the vet confirmed what she already knew: Billie was profoundly deaf. 'I had been shouting at him and would be so frustrated that he wouldn't respond. But now I'm relieved that he couldn't. It wasn't his fault,' says Sukie. 'When I was told he was deaf, I was upset and daunted. But I very quickly got over it and started thinking of other ways to train him.' In a bid to converse with Billie, Sukie, who teaches sign language to babies, figured she could try using the principles of baby signing to get him to follow basic commands. Baby sign language uses simple hand gestures to help babies communicate their needs and wants before they can talk, so Sukie started practising with a few basic commands: 'No', 'Sit' and 'Stay'. Using lots of treats and ensuring Billie was watching her, she was overjoyed when her method, which combines words from Makaton and British Sign Language, started to work. 'Even though I know he can't hear, I speak when I sign because I feel energy comes when you talk. Especially with words like 'no' or 'naughty', which I need for when he's attacking the cat.' While Billie, now 10 months, still doesn't know his own name and won't recall to the sound of Sukie's voice when off lead, he has a whole repertoire of commands which he can understand, with varying degrees of success. Sukie has taught him 'Come', 'Stop', 'Off' and 'Down', and she can ask him if he wants to go outside. He knows 'Lie Down', 'Ball,' and 'Walk' – and 'Good Boy' is a thumbs up. He also understands signs for Henry, Sukie's only son who lives with them, and 'Friend', alongside 'Soon', 'Home' and 'All Gone' – among others. And Billie has picked up a trick used by young babies; a phenomenon called 'shared looking'. Sukie explains: 'Babies naturally do this – they will look at something that interests them – a book or a rattle – and look back at you, back and forth, as if to say, 'I like this'. It's what they do before they can point, from around five months old. Billie started doing this at four months and now does it all the time. He looks at the door or the fridge or the treat cupboard, then looks back at me and keeps at it until I do what he wants – or tell him 'No'.' Sukie uses 'B' to sign his name, although he doesn't need that very often. The training process has been tricky, though, she admits, because Billie doesn't pick up on verbal cues. And he can be vulnerable at the park, failing to clock warning growls and barks from other dogs, while occasionally being difficult to catch. But Sukie has trained a way around this. 'He was off the lead as soon as I was taking him for walks, before I knew he was deaf,' she explains. 'He runs after birds and squirrels, so I trained him to check in on me. Every time he looked at me, I would give him a thumbs up and a small bit of kibble. He checks all the time now. If he loses me, I have to madly wave my arms about. But I've never lost him. More Trending 'There are so many positives to his not being able to hear,' adds Sukie. 'He doesn't bark much and plays extremely well with other dogs – he has a lot of friends.' His lack of response to the doorbell or postman is also an upside. 'Many deaf dogs are up for adoption, as when an owner finds out their puppy is deaf, people immediately think they can't cope,' adds Sukie. 'But I would urge anyone not to worry about it, as deaf dogs are brilliant. 'Billie is a super friendly, happy and calm little dog, and I wouldn't have him any other way. I'm so glad to have him.' MORE: I thought I'd been punched – but three strangers had stabbed me MORE: In a Canadian region tourists often miss, I went in search of grizzly bears MORE: Man 'cooked his Chihuahua puppy to death in oven because it wouldn't stop barking'
