Award nomination recognises social worker's work for Island's deaf people

30 July 2010

Jersey’s senior practitioner for deaf and hard of hearing Islanders has been shortlisted for a national award. The nomination recognises Angela Goddard's contribution toward achieving a society in which deaf and deafblind people have full access. Angela has been invited to a ceremony in London in November where the winners of this and several other award categories will be announced.

Angela, who works for Social Services and is Jersey's only social worker for the deaf and hard of hearing, was nominated for the Signature Joseph Maitland Robinson Award for Outstanding Contribution by the Jersey dDeaf Partnership Board. The board is a multi-agency group of professionals, parents, service users and charities whose remit is to improve awareness, access, information, inclusion and communication for Jersey’s deaf and hard of hearing community.

Board chairperson Laura Goldstein said “Angela was instrumental in the formation of the board and her passion, long-term commitment, drive and enthusiasm has empowered us to pursue projects that have been extremely successful in raising awareness and improving the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people. Most of all Angela works tirelessly for the deaf community at an individual, social and strategic level. She is utterly deserving of being shortlisted for this award.”

The Signature Annual Awards have become a major event in the calendar for deaf and hard of hearing people. The awards publicly recognise the dedicated efforts of many people who strive to overcome barriers to communication between deaf and hearing people and acknowledge those whose contribution moves us all further toward achieving a society in which deaf people have full access.

Last year, Jersey’s teacher of British sign language, Robert Le Masurier, won the South East Regional Teacher of the Year Award and went on to win the UK Teacher of the Year Award at the Signature Annual Awards ceremony. 

Signature Chief Executive, Jim Edwards, said “We’ve been thrilled by the variety of nominations across all of the Signature Annual Awards categories this year.

“All of the nominations are truly remarkable and speak volumes for the amazing work happening all over the UK. It will be hard to pick our winners as they all deserve so much credit.”

Signature operates throughout the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands.