Our Impact – Lollipop

Lollipop exists to support deaf children and young people, and children of deaf adults (CODA) in York and North Yorkshire.

Deaf children and young people are much more vulnerable to poor mental health, and are more likely to experience feelings of exclusion and isolation. Lollipop provides opportunities for members to connect and grow up with each other in a local deaf community. We do this by organising inclusive, deaf-friendly activities and deliver these free to our members. Lollipop members can meet others their own age and form a deaf peer group local to them. This builds their confidence, their sense of belonging to the community and supports the development of their self-identity as a young deaf person. Our members actively participate in choosing the activities, we regularly run polls to gauge their interest and try to make their suggestions happen (within reason!)

In the academic year 2024 – 2025 we have run 18 different activities in York and North Yorkshire for our 168 members. In the past year we have welcomed 15 new members.

In the last 12 months we have:

Provided monthly term-time free activities for deaf children and CODA up to the age of 25 because we believe no deaf child should be excluded because of financial reasons.

We fund free baby-signing classes and messy play sessions, deaf-friendly swimming courses, unstructured social activities, drama workshops, Lego workshops and challenging experiences like climbing or go-karting in a deaf-friendly environment.

We provide communications support and/or a BSL interpreter at every event.

We hold monthly drop-in sessions for parents to come and seek advice and support at the York Deaf Society, held at the same time as York Deaf Cafe.

We organise the unique York Deaf Services Fair where local professional services come to exhibit their work. This is a bi-annual event, and in 2025 was held at The Folk Hall in New Earswick. Here are two members with their mum attending the fair in May.

Photos above from top left to right: The Bear Ear Clinic created by Toy Like Me, Lollipop parent Davia, Teacher of the Deaf Annalee, and BSL interpreter Natalie, Language and Lullabies meet Annie from the British Deaf Association.

Bottom left: The busy SignWow stand! Bottom right: The Deaf Services Fair in Orchard Hall

Lollipop exists to support deaf children and young people, and children of deaf adults (CODA) in York and North Yorkshire.

In the academic year 2024 – 2025 we have run 18 different activities in York and North Yorkshire for our 168 members. In the past year we have welcomed 15 new members.

In the last 12 months we have:

We provide communications support and/or a BSL interpreter at every event.

We hold monthly drop-in sessions for parents to come and seek advice and support at the York Deaf Society, held at the same time as York Deaf Cafe.

Lollipop was founded in 2004 and in it’s 21 years has delivered long-term support to over 250 deaf families in York and North Yorkshire.