NEIGHBOURS were given a helping hand to communicate with deaf people at an interactive workshop to learn sign language.

Charity Deaf Direct invited people to the course on Thursday to learn how to communicate better with people living with hearing difficulties.

The workshop, at the Donnington Community Centre in Townsend Square, not only taught people some basic sign language skills, but also how to support people with hearing difficulties.

John Corble, who has been deaf since he was one, has been part of the group since it formed.

He said: “It has been an interesting day for people to learn how to support people with hearing difficulties.”

Deaf Direct works with deaf people and people with hearing difficulties, their family members and carers, as well as professionals.

It runs a deaf club on the first, third and fifth Friday of each month, from 7pm to 10.30pm, at the Oxford Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre in St Ebbe’s.

There is also a deaf church service every second and fourth Sunday at 3pm at the centre, as well as a coffee morning from 10am to 2pm on the second Thursday every month.