'I sign parkrun briefings to make events accessible'

Many deaf runners arrive at community running events hoping to improve their wellbeing, only to feel isolated because they cannot follow safety briefings, says Amanda Cooper. This is something Amanda, a sign language volunteer, is determined to help change.

She travels to parkruns across the country to ensure deaf participants aren't left feeling unsure about the course they're about to tackle.

Amanda, from York, says communication barriers can turn a positive Saturday morning into a stressful one, with some people finishing feeling "worse mental health than when they arrived".

Parkrun, a free weekly 5k event held across more than 900 UK locations, held more than 250 parkruns last month with sign language support present, a spokesperson said.

Amanda signs during briefings for people attending their first parkrun and in the main safety briefing, ensuring deaf participants receive the same information as everyone else.

Deaf runners can feel unsafe on the course when they miss hazard warnings or cannot hear instructions from marshals, she says, sometimes worrying they are doing something wrong or unaware of changes to the route.

These moments can quickly turn a relaxed community event into an anxious experience, she adds, with Amanda volunteering 40 times so far as a sign language support volunteer.

UK Deaf Sport, a national charity advocating for deaf inclusion in sport, says many deaf people still face barriers that make mainstream activities "highly stressful".

Chris Ratcliffe, its chief executive officer, says many deaf participants struggle because events "rely heavily on auditory cues" and "spoken communication".

Parkrun says its events are "continuing to take meaningful steps to remove barriers to participation" across the UK.

Amanda highlights that one in six people have some degree of hearing loss, yet many take years to acknowledge it.

She says it can take seven to 10 years for people to come to terms with hearing loss due to stigma, embarrassment and fear of being left out.

Having lost her own hearing gradually since her twenties, she uses hearing aids - but stresses they are not a complete solution.

"They don't give you your full hearing back, they just improve it," she says, comparing them to a walking stick that helps but doesn't fully restore ability.

Her own experiences of communication barriers led her to set up Deaf Advocacy and Support York, helping people across North Yorkshire access services that often rely on phone calls or spoken communication.

Many deaf people are still told to "just give us a ring", she says, leaving them unable to resolve issues.

A lack of sign language support at some parkrun events "can be very isolating", says Philippa Wynne, a board member at UK Deaf Sport.

Negative experiences at sporting events can "impact confidence and mental wellbeing and often puts people off returning", she adds.

Philippa, who has attended parkrun since 2012, explains: "Having sign language support makes a huge difference.

"It means I can fully access information and feel part of the event."

Reflecting on her time as a parkrun deaf and hard of hearing outreach ambassador in 2017, Philippa says she and others pushed for sign support to be recognised as an official volunteer role.

"Support like this isn't optional - it's essential if sport is going to be truly inclusive for everyone," she says.

Amanda says volunteering has been hugely positive for her own wellbeing, with being in the parkrun team boosting her confidence and reducing her own sense of isolation.

"There's nothing out of bounds, deaf volunteers have done every role - even run director," she says.

"It's a great atmosphere and everyone should be able to enjoy it on equal terms."

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