Meet the Staff

Staff

Mary MacKenzie
Manager

"Mary is a valuable member of our team and we are glad to have her on board"

Mary is our very enthusiastic Manager of School of Sign Language. She is a friendly and caring person with a bubbly personality and always willing to help. Mary started to sign 13 years ago and has worked with Deaf people in Schools, Colleges, Youth and Community Centres, Prisons etc. She has her CACDP Level 1, 2 and 3 and she is now ready to start her NVQ Level 4. She also has numerous other qualifications including Deafblind and Deaf Awareness. Her aim is to be a qualified Interpreter as there is such a shortage at present.

Beverley Davies
BSL Development Officer and Tutor

"Bev's immense energy and enthusiasm is invaluable to School of Sign Language"

We are pleased to have employed our very first Deaf member of staff. Beverley is our BSL Development Officer for School of Sign Language. She is also our Deaf Tutor who teaches workshops in Schools, Colleges, Youth and Community Centres, Prisons and various other organisations. She also teaches CACDP Level 1 courses and does a very good job in all her work. She is dedicated to her job and aims to promote Deaf Awareness and British Sign Language to the wider hearing community and hopes to break down the barriers between Deaf and hearing people.

Shirley Whiteside
BSL Tutor

"A good hard worker, an asset to our team"

Shirley is profoundly Deaf. She has been teaching BSL for over 20 years. Shirley loves teaching hearing people who want to learn to sign. Shirley loves using the computer and learning new skills in the office. She is a very competent Tutor and brings depth to the knowledge of our teaching staff. She now has her own hearing dog called Jake.

Karen Lund
Communication Support Worker and Volunteer

"A very eager person and always willing to help!"

Karen has been learning BSL (British Sign Language) since September 2002. She has recently completed her final module of a Graduate Diploma in BSL and Communication Studies. She is presently on her CACDP Level 3 course. At present she is working as a CSW (Communication Support Worker) for School of Sign Language and Volunteer towards any projects that are being undertaken. She enjoys working as part of a friendly team who aim to provide Deaf Awareness and BSL courses to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Karen is hoping to become a qualified interpreter in the future, and is intending to continue her studies towards this.

Lucy Slater
Communication Support Worker and Volunteer

"A very determined and dedicated young lady!"

Lucy has now got her degree in Deaf studies and Criminology. She will soon be starting her CACDP Level 3 course and then will continue to do the Interpreting Diploma so she can become a fully qualified BSL (British Sign Language) interpreter in the future.
Lucy has been signing for 5 years and has done voluntary work in various locations, all of which she has loved. She is also working as a CSW (Communication Support Worker) for the School of Sign Language.

Emma Gill
Volunteer Co-ordinator

"Emma's dedication is second to none, and is very much appreciated"

Emma is our very keen Volunteer Co-ordinator who is always willing to help. She confidently works with Beverley when teaching workshops and is a valuable member of our team. She is always there for our new Volunteers showing them what is expected of them and making them feel welcome.

Olusegun Babatunde
Graphic Designer

"Segun contributes a significant amount of wealth and knowledge in his area of work!"

Segun is currently working on School of Sign Language resources. His hobbies are meeting different people, going to the gym, reading books and newspapers and likes to know all the different news that is happening in the world. He really enjoys Graphic Design and inventing new ideas.
"I am very happy to be working here at School of Sign Language and enjoy meeting lots of new people who come into the office".

Habib Hussain
Office Clerk

"Habib truly brightens up the office with his unique sense of humour!"

Habib is on a work placement in the School of Sign Language office. He likes meeting new people and making new friends.
Habib has recently passed his CACDP Level 1 British Sign Language course. Well done!
In the future, he wants to work in the fashion industry as a style consultant.
Habib enjoys listening to music, baking and decorating cakes, especially for special occasions such as weddings and birthdays.

Sajida Parveen
Office Clerk

"A hard working and articulate member of the team"

Sajida is currently on a work placement in the School of Sign Language office. She loves working in the office, and acquiring new skills. She also enjoys the travelling to different placements.
Sajida is good at working as part of a team and is also competent with a computer and the Microsoft Office suite of software. In the future, Sajida wants a full time job doing the kind of work she has done at School of Sign Language.
Sajida is a friendly, happy and bright young lady!