Fingerspellathon

The Fingerspellathon is a fundraising spelling bee with a difference! Children, and adults alike, learn how to fingerspell the alphabet and are then sponsored to spell words correctly.

Not only is it a fun and educational activity to do at home, it’s also a great way to increase deaf awareness and keep children (or yourself!) entertained.

How to organise a Fingerspellathon at home

1. Sign up online today! You’ll receive our fabulous Fingerspelling pack, bursting with free resources for some fingerspelling fun.
2. Practice your fingerspelling, and get friends and family to sponsor your fingerspelling challenge.
3. Show everyone your skills and help spread deaf awareness by sharing your fingerspelling challenges on social media using the hashtag #Fingerspellathon.
4. Use our handy guide to send in your funds. If you’re sending funds via bank transfer, don’t forget to pop ‘FSPELL’ in the reference so we can track your donation and say thank you.

Challenge yourself

There are lots of fun ways you can challenge yourself with fingerspelling. You could be sponsored to:

• learn the alphabet or a set amount of words (use our word lists, or create your own)
• raise money for each word spelt correctly
• take part in activities like our word hunt or word search
• take on our #Fingerspellathon - get sponsored to film yourself fingerspelling supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and share on social media. Don’t forget to nominate friends to take part too!

How your support can make a difference to the lives of deaf children

Your fundraising will support deaf children like Lola. When Lola was diagnosed as deaf at four and a half weeks, her parents Ros and Josh were unsure of the future she had ahead of her.

They knew nothing about deafness - how they could communicate with their daughter? How would they be able to do simple things like cross a road? As a keen singer, Ros was devastated Lola may never hear her singing.

We provided support for Lola’s family and information on the options available to them. The family chose to learn British Sign Language, and we provided the taught sessions where Lola made her first signs.

“I was so thrilled and proud. Her signing is brilliant. She’s like a sponge, learns two or three signs a week and is putting them together. Nothing will match the moment when Lola signed those first words.” Ros, Lola’s mum.

At first they were unsure of what was ahead. Now, Ros and Josh know Lola has the support she needs for a bright future.

However much you raise, it’ll help us continue to break down barriers for the 50,000 deaf children in the UK. By supporting our work, you’ll make a big difference to the lives of deaf children.

We’d love to hear from you!

We would love to hear all about your Fingerspellathon so we can support your fundraising. Get in touch with us by email [email protected] or call 0207 014 1199 to speak to our team.