Training

Hearing Loss Training for Bristol Workplaces

Give your staff the confidence to communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing – whether they’re colleagues, customers, patients, students or visitors.

Our Hearing Loss Initiative training is built and delivered by Jason and Jo, drawing on years of community work at Bristol’s Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People and lived HoH experience.

What this training is

A practical, plain‑English session that shows your team how to:

• Spot when someone might be struggling to hear.
• Communicate clearly without shouting or “talking at” people.
• Make meetings, reception desks, tills and service counters more accessible.
• Use simple visual aids (notes, captions, signage) so information isn’t missed.

It’s designed for any type of organisation in and around Bristol: offices and SMEs, cafés and hospitality, shops, health and care settings, arts and culture venues, community centres and public services.

Why it matters for Bristol

In Bristol, over 62,000 adults are estimated to have some form of hearing loss – around 16% of the adult population.

That means hearing loss is already part of your workplace, even if no‑one has said so out loud. Every small improvement in how your staff communicate can reduce frustration, prevent misunderstandings and make people feel welcome instead of shut out.

What your staff will learn

We keep the session simple, concrete and focused on real situations. By the end of the training, your staff will:

• Know how hearing loss actually affects everyday conversation at work.
• Be able to get someone’s attention, face them properly and speak in a way that is easier to follow.
• Understand how to support people in noisy spaces – from busy offices and cafés to receptions and event venues.
• Have a checklist for running deaf‑aware meetings and video calls.
• Know where to signpost people locally (CfD, RNID, NHS and council sensory support).

We always include time for questions, and encourage staff to bring examples from their own roles.

How training is delivered

We offer both online and in‑person options:

• Online live session: Perfect for teams spread across different sites or working from home. Delivered via your preferred platform (Teams, Zoom, Meet).
• On‑site training in Bristol: Jo visits your workplace or venue anywhere in the Bristol area. We tailor examples to your environment – front desk, shop floor, clinic, classroom, bar, office, etc.

Typical session length is 60–90 minutes, and we can run repeated sessions to cover different teams or shifts.

Who it’s for

• Customer‑facing staff (retail, hospitality, reception, box office, front‑of‑house).
• Managers and team leaders who run meetings, briefings and 1‑to‑1s.
• HR, wellbeing and EDI leads who want to strengthen disability inclusion.
• Any staff member who simply wants to be more confident and respectful when communicating with people who have hearing loss.

You don’t need any prior knowledge. We assume nothing and start from the basics.