AN East Lancashire deaf group is hoping to bridge the gap for deaf children who want to get involved with play schemes this summer.

Chantelle Alker, manager of the East Lancashire Deaf Society's Family Support Services, says that around 70 youngsters with hearing disabilities will struggle to access council-run play services, even with a special assistant, because the groups, are too big or rely too heavily on hearing.

Family support services, based in Keirby Walk, Burnley, and Heaton Street, Blackburn, offers a range of schemes and clubs for families affected by hearing problems - either deaf parents with hearing children or hearing parents with deaf children.

Homework clubs, basic sign language, home visits, and family centres are all organised thanks to Chantelle and her team of six funded from the local authority Children's Fund with around £100,000 a year in total. This summer they have planned two trips to take small groups of deaf children to specially selected events run by the council or community centres.

Chantelle, who is deaf, and set up the group six years ago, said: "It is really important deaf children have the chance to form their own identity and meet with other children. They can have low self-esteem, a lack of confidence and even suffer mental health problems if they live in a bubble.

"We want to get a positive message to people about the deaf culture. Sometimes people have never even met a deaf person, so it is like a new world.

"We also want to provide positive role models so parents don't need to be quite so worried that their child is deaf; there is no reason they can not be successful."

The borough council's culture director, Steve Rigby, said: "We are committed to providing a high standard of care for all children who attend our playschemes and each activity is tailored to suit the individual requirements of those involved."

For more information about Family Support Services at the East Lancashire Deaf Society call 01254 844555.