THIS week marks National Deaf Awareness Week, where communities in Gwent are getting together to mark the occasion.

There are many groups, communities and courses within South Wales that teach British Sign Language (BSL), but also come together to show that those who are deaf, or deaf-blind, are capable of everything a sound-hearing person is.

One of these groups is the Sign Language Studies Centre (SLSC) in Newport.

The centre, located on Bridge Street, has been teaching BSL for 12 years, having initially set up delivering taster sessions to Frontline Staff.

Run by husband and wife Charles and Gaye Hampton, who are both deaf, the centre has grown since its opening due to the demand for deaf awareness.

For National Deaf Awareness Week this year they aim to hold free taster sessions of BSL and are arranging an annual Sign Song Dinner & Award Night Signing Songs, for both Deaf & Hearing audiences.

Only a few years after its opening, the SLSC started teaching full sign language classes and hired out rooms for those wanting to be taught,

Three years ago the couple then set up the centre on Bridge Street, and has grown even more.

Gaye Hampton says they have grown and diversified in order to meet the needs of the companies and the general public, and that having their own centre makes it a lot easier.

“We have found that having our own centre has allowed us to deliver courses when we want, and not when rooms are available.

“We also felt it was good to have a place of contact for organisations that need support in order for them to meet the needs of their Deaf clients. We have worked with many organisations that require their information delivered in Sign Language.”

The couple deliver around four to five classes a week, teaching different levels of sign language to their clients and students.

They have won many awards over the years for their teaching, which includes Mr Hampton winning the title of Wales Teacher of the Year in 2014.

Speaking about National Deaf Awareness Week, Mrs Hampton said: “It’s important because it reminds people that there are still issues surrounding deafness and the understanding of it.

“British Sign Language was recognised as an official language in March 2003, but very little has changed in the wider scheme of things.”

Mrs Hampton also says the teachers are always keen on projects that will bring deaf and hearing people together.

She said: “Our latest project is working with the Dolman Theatre to have at least one performance a month having access for Deaf people by having a Sign Language Interpreted Performance.

“The next performance is on June 16th and is called “Maurice’s Jubilee”.”

Many charities and councils also aim to bring awareness to the deaf and deaf-blind, and believe National Deaf Awareness Week can help highlight this.

Wales Council for Deaf People is one of the main voluntary bodies in Wales which represents people who are deaf, deaf-blind or are hard of hearing.

The council currently have around 26 groups set up across the country for elderly people who are hard of hearing.

Local groups are provided with a start-up grant and are offered advice on setting up and running the groups.

As well as the hard of hearing groups, the council set up training for lip-reading tutors, and have set up classes across Wales to help those who struggle with communicating.

Donna Cushing, the Development Services Manager for Wales Council for Deaf People, says that currently 1 in 6 people suffer with a hearing loss in Wales, which is an estimated 515,000 people.

She said: “The importance of Deaf Awareness Week is to get it out there to the general public.

“In 2035 this figure is set to increase to 1 in 5 people with hearing loss and with the estimated population increase that could be 735,000 people in Wales who will suffer from hearing loss by then.

“With an ever increasing age population we need to educate and ensure we highlight the needs of those with hearing loss in Wales and that these needs are being met.

“Hearing loss is a hidden disability and isn’t always given the recognition it deserves and it may be seen as a low priority in some sectors.”

One of the charities who aim to turn the spotlight on what deaf and deaf-blind people can do and can achieve is Action on Hearing Loss.

The company, which is UK wide, and a Royal national charity, said they are hoping to “tear up society's assumptions about people who are deaf or have hearing loss.”

People are encouraged to join in their conversation on Twitter about National Deaf Awareness Week, sharing their stories and helping to raise awareness.