Catching Up: Signs, Shifts, and Why We Keep Going
Every single week, I tell myself, "Today is the day I update the blog."
I manage to stay on top of Facebook, LinkedIn, X—you name it, I’ve tried to update it. But the moment I sit down to write a proper blog post, distraction wins. So, what have I actually been up to over the past few months?
As it turns out, quite a lot.
The Ultimate Distraction: Learning BSL
The biggest drain on my time recently has been diving headfirst into British Sign Language. I started the journey on January 10th, 2026, and officially completed Level 1 on June 9th. It should have been a July finish, but after failing one of the modules, I had to do a quick resit! I'm now waiting on the final results—which are due any day now—with every intention of signing up for Level 2 this September.
BSL is something I’ve wanted to do for ages, but life always seemed to get in the way. When an attendee at our arts service mentioned they were taking a fully funded course, both Tracy and I jumped at the chance and signed up.
However, it turned out to be an incredibly intensive 15-week sprint. By week three or four, the sheer pressure became overwhelming, and Tracy decided to pull out. The good news? We still sign together all the time! If I need something, I’ll sign it to her, and she’ll sign it back. The language is still a part of our daily lives, just without the exam stress. Thankfully, Level 2 is a year-long course, so the pace should be much more manageable.
From Homework to New Projects
As part of the curriculum, our tutor was insistent that we attend D/deaf events. Naturally, my first question was: where are they?
It turns out there are tons of them. So, being me, I couldn’t just look them up—I built a website for them instead. You can check that out in the menu above under "Projects."
But the developer brain didn't stop there. Once the course ended, I realized people needed a way to keep their skills sharp. The virtual meeting room we set up to practice in every single day during those 15 weeks was suddenly empty. Hello? Anyone still there?
Cue the next project: BSL Practice Partners.
On this new platform, you can register and instantly see the distance between you and other users, making it easier to find local people to practice with—ideally Native BSL users. Just tonight, I added a map feature so you can see the general city or district other learners are from.
As for me? You’ll find me at several D/deaf pubs and clubs throughout the month, doing what matters most: communicating. Because at the end of the day, communication is about ensuring no one gets left behind. And the best ripple effect of all? We've officially welcomed Deaf attendees to our arts and crafts sessions. Woop!!
We’ve Moved!
In other big news, our arts service has relocated. You can now find us on the ground floor at Uro Space, in Times Square, Sutton. It’s a brilliant new spot for our sessions, and we're excited to be there.
The Tough Reality (And a Small Ask)
Now for the part I always hate talking about: the finances.
We’ve reached the end of our financial year, which means we are suddenly facing £1,440 in accountant fees. If you’ve been following our journey, you know that we strictly do not charge the people who use our service. But that fee has to come from somewhere.
On top of that, our fantastic new venue comes with rent. Between the accountant and the room hire, we need to find around £2,100 a year just to keep the doors open—and that’s before we even factor in web domains, hosting, and insurance.
If you have a spare 10p stuck down the back of your sofa, please consider throwing it our way. Every single penny directly keeps this service running.
I’ll admit, there are times I sit back and ask myself, is it really worth it? But then I see the 12 regular faces who come out almost every week—knowing they truly have nowhere else to go—and the answer is immediate. Yes. If it helps even just one person, it is more than worth it.
Thank you, as always, for the support. Kim Executive Director My Mental Wellness UK cic
Want to help keep our doors open? Head over to our Donation page hosted by Sum Up to support all of our projects.