SIX members of the Bacup and Stacksteads Sure Start team will be able to communicate more easily with people with hearing difficulties after completing specialised training.

Mandy Halstead, Sue Hopkinson, Alison Lorente, Catherine Ogilvie, Corrina Purdy-Baker and Paula Southcott all achieved the CACDP (Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People) level one certificate in Communication Tactics.

The training, organised by Hearfirst, highlighted the difficulties deaf people face in their everyday lives through simulations of what deaf people actually hear, exercises in lip reading and also gave practical solutions to overcome communication barriers.

It gave staff an understanding and awareness of deafness which will enable them to communicate professionally with deaf and hard of hearing children and parents.

The staff said that it made them reconsider how they generally communicate with others and develop those skills further.

The one-day course took place eight weeks ago at the Mary Hindle Resource Centre in Haslingden but the staff were told their results this week.