We are all shocked by the events in London yesterday and naturally our thoughts are with those who were killed. All credit goes to our emergency services who did as much to save the life of the perpetrator as for his victims. Our thoughts naturally are with the victims and their families. I will not enter into the debate on the issue, but post two links which people may find useful. They are little applications which give advice or warning of emergencies and may save a life.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Emergency-response/Emergency-app

http://citizenaid.org/features/download-citizenaid-app/

Enough said, now Sign Language for Radio.

Not compatible I hear you say, those who use sign language cannot hear the radio. It’s your Fly Fishing in the Yemen moment.

Of course you are right, but community radio is all about inclusiveness, the very title gives it away; it is about your community and so we should make all effort to include everybody. So when an opportunity arose to get on a course, which was an introduction to Sign Language I took it. We can all order beer in a dozen languages and say, please, thank you, yes and no; so why not add sign language to that list. As a radio presenter we are invited to go out into the community and engage with our public so if I have learned the stock phases, let us include the deaf and those who use sign language. We produce a Talking Newspaper for the visually impaired, so let us look at improving our websites so that they can be at the heart of our local communities and include the hearing impaired too.

For my own programmes, I provide playlists for the music ones that I publish on my Facebook pages. I will develop a website that will carry more information on all my programmes, but rather like the Talking Newspaper wouldn’t it be good if you could go to a site where there was a transcript of an interesting programme that you might have enjoyed listening to, with all the links to useful sites. If I have mentioned a group, you could at least see what I had been talking about on a Youtube clip.

When I am on the street I will be able to say hello to everybody, that must be good for relationships in a community.

So where is the sun cream and my fishing rod, shukraan!