About The Signing Space CIC
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide free, accessible British Sign Language (BSL) education and support to families and individuals who might otherwise face barriers. We aim to empower people to communicate confidently, connect with the Deaf community, and promote early language development.
Our Values
We are guided by a few simple principles:
Accessibility: Everyone should have the opportunity to learn BSL, regardless of cost.
Early Intervention: Supporting communication from the earliest stages can transform lives.
Community: We believe in fostering connections between families, individuals, and the Deaf community.
Inclusivity: Everyone is welcome, and diversity is celebrated.
Why it matters
Early access to BSL is vital for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Over 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, most of whom have little or no knowledge of deafness or sign language. Without early communication, children risk long-term impacts on language development, social skills, and mental health.
By learning BSL within a child’s first months, parents can support their child’s development on par with deaf BSL-using parents. Early exposure to sign language also strengthens social adaptability and confidence, helping children engage fully with family, peers, and the wider community.
The benefits of BSL go beyond deafness. Non-speaking children, those with learning differences, and older people experiencing hearing loss can also gain a vital route to communication, expression, and connection. Free BSL education helps prevent isolation, promotes confidence, and supports intergenerational communication.
Despite some subsidised BSL courses being available, access remains patchy and limited. The Signing Space CIC exists to make BSL learning accessible to all, ensuring that no one is left behind — from the very start of life to later years — simply because of cost or availability.
About Our Director
Jemma founded The Signing Space CIC to create welcoming, accessible spaces for families to learn British Sign Language (BSL) and connect with the Deaf community. She brings a unique combination of academic research and practical experience to the role. Jemma has worked part-time at Manchester Deaf Centre (MDC) for several years, starting as a Youth Worker where she lead baby sign and play groups and kids clubs, before changing her role where she now supports BSL course delivery. It was through this work at MDC that Jemma saw how early access to sign language could transform children’s communication — and noticed how many families had little support beyond medical advice. This inspired her to make BSL learning accessible and free to those who need it most.
Academically, Jemma’s work explores the experiences of deafness and language access. Her undergraduate dissertation looked at the development and rejection of sign language as a form of communication, and she is currently completing a PhD on the experiences of deafness in the early twentieth century, examining historic stigma and language deprivation. Jemma is also undertaking a BSL interpreter course. Having started learning BSL at 17, Jemma is passionate about promoting early intervention and empowering families to confidently support their children through sign language.
Meet Our Team
Jemma Lakmaker
Marcelle Samuels
Our Advisory Board
We are establishing an Advisory Board made up of people who share our commitment to improving communication and inclusion. The board brings together a diverse range of voices, from parents and teachers to Deaf community members, interpreters, healthcare professionals, and anyone with lived experience or a connection to our work.
The role of the Advisory Board is to help steer and guide the direction of the CIC, ensuring that we stay true to our mission, remain accountable to the communities we serve, and continue to achieve our aims effectively. Members may provide feedback on our projects, suggest new initiatives, and help us build partnerships that strengthen our impact.
We believe collaboration is key to meaningful change, and we welcome anyone who can contribute ideas, expertise, or lived experience to join us in shaping the future of The Signing Space.
👉 If you’d like to join the Advisory Board, please apply through the form below or send us a video application via email.
Board Member Application
If British Sign Language is your preferred method of communication, you can send us a video application via email.
