NOMINATIONS are open to find the North-East’s most inspirational people involved in the deaf and deaf blind community.

Signature, a Durham-based charity providing British Sign Language and other deaf and deaf blind qualifications, is looking for entries for its eighth annual awards.

The awards celebrate people from across the UK who are involved in providing a positive impact on the lives of some of the 11 million deaf and hard of hearing people living in the country.

Lindsay Foster, Signature executive director said: "We are overwhelmed every year by the amazing stories that are uncovered through our awards and it gives us great pleasure in being able to celebrate the great work that is being done in our home region to help improve the lives of deaf people.

“This year, the Signature Annual Awards will focus on ‘educators’, including new and experienced teachers of British Sign Language and teachers of the deaf, groups or individuals in the local community who create exciting learning opportunities for deaf and hearing impaired people, and business people who are improving customer service for deaf and deafblind people through staff training.

“We would like to ask as many people and organisations as possible to nominate so that we can celebrate those who dedicate their time to the increasingly important issue of improving communication between the growing deaf community and their hearing peers.”

The awards will be held in January 2017 at Prospero House in London.

Nominations close on Friday, July 15. To find out more visit www.signatureannualawards.org.uk