Student wins prestigious Diana Award for work with hearing impaired community

Congratulations to Sarah-Beth Parker, who has received a prestigious award named after the late Princess Diana, honouring her work promoting British Sign Language.

The Diana Awards acknowledge the work of 9-25 year olds around the world, and are given in recognition of young people creating and sustaining positive social change.

Sarah-Beth, who is graduating this year from our Primary Education (3-7 years) BA(Hons) with QTS course, set up the university’s British Sign Language (BSL) Society during her first year, and has overseen a flourishing programme during her time at Brighton, from teaching BSL to fellow students to organising video signed Christmas carol services to raise money for local deaf children’s society.

Sarah-Beth is hearing impaired herself and learnt BSL while at school. On receiving the Diana Award, she said: “I am thrilled to have won this award and hope this is the start of bringing BSL into mainstream environments, and making the world a better place by making it more inclusive for all.

“I have loved my time at the University of Brighton and I am particularly proud of my BSL Society and how far we have come in just three years. The Brighton Student Union have been so supportive over the years, and I wouldn’t be here without them nominating me! I cannot thank them enough. I met some fantastic people who were just as passionate about inclusivity as I was.”

Facebook: Brighton Sign Language Society