Aim 

We all know the Deaf community is changing. Now we use mobile phones to meet up with friends, and chat on the internet there is a risk we will stop coming together as a community as much. Sign Circle is a chance for us to all get together, share some fun times and create fantastic memories.

Years ago members of the Deaf community, young and old would all meet together. Now we have events planned just for the adults or by youth groups. We wanted to arrange an event where there is something for everyone so the Community can grow together.

Why Sign Circle?

The first festival plans began in September 2006 after Paul and Jen attended a Peace and Arts festival together. The dream was to create a similar community environment where everything was not just accessible for Deaf people, but designed by and for the Deaf Community.  

To keep focused on the aim, along with the other original coordinators, Ricci, Gavin and Paulus we spent a lot of time thinking about a name to represent what we were trying to do. We chose Sign Circle because the circle is a very visual way to represent the Deaf community - we are ALWAYS chatting/signing in circles wherever we go - pubs, Deaf clubs, town centre! And a circle is a way to bring people into a group; there are no sides to a circle - everyone is equal. We dreamed of the circles of tents around the festival fires.