Pedalling Change - the Story of Sign & Cycle

For nearly 40 years, a unique social enterprise in Ballinlough Cork has been quietly weaving a story of inclusion and innovation. Deaf Enterprises is not your typical furniture restoration and bicycle repair shop. Here, the focus goes beyond this; it’s about creating opportunities for the Deaf community.

Founded in 1986 Deaf Enterprises was set up by Father Bill Clarke and others, with a mission to bridge the gap in employment opportunities for Deaf individuals. It has now become the largest employer of Deaf and hard of hearing people in the whole of the country. By providing a work environment that prioritises visual communication and fosters a strong sense of community, the organisation has become a vital resource to its employees. Having grown from 10 employees to 38 in the last ten years, it provides not only a place of work, but a social and community hub for the skilled crafts people that work here.

In April 2021, whilst scaling growth, the opportunity arose for a new pilot project funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), in conjunction with the Department of Transport (DoT), to develop a scheme for the provision of high quality up-cycled bicycles and e-bikes as an alternative to the ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme model. Set up and managed in conjunction with Cork Community Bikes, the project is more than sustainable bikes, it aims to be a hub of innovation, promoting the use of bikes either through donation, reduced costs or collaboration with organisations who provide support to people who may not otherwise have access to bikes. The Sign & Cycle pilot project objectives are to promote cycling as a better mode of transport, exercise, and bike reuse for environmental improvement. The program also focuses on supplying recycled bicycles to schools, direct provision centres, and other community locations. It includes employment and work placement programs to meet specific targets, as well as education and training programs leading to qualifications in bike maintenance and mechanics. This project has allowed Deaf Enterprises to employ a further 5 people.

“We offer a space where everyone is welcome from any background, this is a supported work environment that allows a safe and secure workplace that many consider a home from home support,” explains Claire O’Mahony, the Employment Assistance Officer in Deaf Enterprises.

“Our communication relies heavily on sign language and visual cues, creating a comfortable and empowering environment for Deaf employees to excel. My colleagues work speaks for itself, revamping and giving life to preloved items of furniture and bikes, where we always say “don’t lose it, re use it” and through this mantra we contribute to the Circular Economy and stop 1000s of pieces of furniture and hundreds of bikes each year from going to landfill.

The success of Deaf Enterprises and Sign and Cycle extends beyond its workshop walls. The organisation provides crucial vocational training, helping Deaf individuals develop valuable skills and build confidence in the workforce. Deaf Enterprises serves as place of hope and awareness, demonstrating the power of social enterprises to create lasting change. For nearly four decades, they have been stitching together not just furniture, but a brighter future for the Deaf community, one reupholstered chair at a time. Now with their new project Sign and Cycle, Deaf Enterprises have been able to rotate the wheels of the circular economy with this new innovative bike project promoting a healthier route for future transportation in Ireland.

Our communication relies heavily on sign language and visual cues, creating a comfortable and empowering environment for deaf employees to excel. My colleagues work speaks for itself, revamping and giving life to preloved items of furniture and bikes, where we always say “don’t lose it, re use it”

In 2024, Sign & Cycle has expanded its impact through several key initiatives. They have created 13 short videos on bike maintenance, translated into Irish Sign Language, and uploaded them to social media platforms, including YouTube, to provide accessible educational content for the Deaf and hard of hearing community.

Additionally, Sign and Cycle have hosted community workshops in Cork to teach bike maintenance and promote cycling, fostering inclusivity among Deaf and hearing participants. The project aims to implement further sustainability programs to promote cycling as an eco-friendly mode of transportation. These initiatives seek to enhance community involvement, provide valuable skills, and encourage sustainable practices. Ultimately, we want to enable people to find an alternative path away from landfill by providing sustainable and green solutions for furniture and bikes.

If you would like to add to the circular economy by getting your furniture recovered or by donating a bike to our workshop, please contact us on 021 4294111 or info@deafenterprises.ie. www.deafenterprises.ie