Your basket is currently empty!
About Us
Our Vision
A world where Disability, sensory loss or risk does not limit, preclude or stigmatise people from achieving their full potential.
Our Mission
“Work with our communities to improve the quality of life and equality of access for Deaf people, people with a sensory loss, Disabled people and people who are at risk.”
Sarah Thomas – Chief Executive Office, COS
Our Values
- We involve members in decision making
- We are open and inclusive
- We are proud to work with others
- We work with integrity
- We care about Community
- We care about our team
Providing direct support to our clients
We provide communication and access support for adults, children and young people. We also provide accessible health services to ensure integration between health care providers and their patients, as well as many service which include disability employment, engagement and well-being.
Training for business and other organisations
Our training courses help reduce the barrier our customers face, teaching basic BSL, raising awareness of sensory loss and introducing BSL into mainstream education
Join the Board of Trustees
Empower people with COS. We are recruiting to a number of voluntary positions to join our Board of Trustees.
Current members of the Board of Trustees are from a variety of backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity. The day to day responsibility for the provision of the services rests with the Management Team who are responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the services specified to a high standard. The Team is also responsible for the supervision of other staff, ensuring that they continue to develop their skills and working practices in line with good practice.
Whether you are an experienced Trustee or wanting to take your first step at Board level, we want you to get in touch, especially if you have skills in:
As a trustee you will have:
- Induction, training & reimbursable expenses
- Opportunities to make strategic decisions & develop new skills
- Opportunities to network with senior professionals
- Influence to shape innovative projects
- The chance to improve health & wellbeing of people & communities
The expected time commitment is six Trustee meetings per year in person or online.
For more information
Where it all began
1994 – Foundation of NWDA
Established by over 100 members of the Deaf Community in North Wales to address concerns about the changes to Local Authority boundaries and to protect the rights of Deaf People.
1994 – Early Services Initiated
Started with 2 staff members offering information, advice, Deaf Awareness Training, and a quarterly newsletter.
1999 – Expansion of Services
As the organisation grew in size and reputation we were able to employ interpreters, develop lipreading classes, and launched a Child and Family project funded by Children in Need.
2000 – Advocacy Service Established
Following the retirement of many Social Workers for Deaf People, and after talks with the heads of the relevant Social Services Departments, NWDA employed its first Advocacy Officer to continue support services.
Early 2000s – Office Relocation and Growth
Moved to offices in Mochdre, employing 10 people, and developed new services including befriending, video production for all our meetings and an Information Officer who would travel around the region taking the services to people living in rural North Wales.
2010 – Further Expansion
As we continued to grow, we were forced to move again, relocating to the Business Centre in Llandudno Junction, and drew up plans to purchase a permanent building we could grow into. Started an Employment Project and working with Wales Council for Deaf People, began training new lipreading teachers.
2014 – Established the North Wales Sensory Centre
Purchased offices in Colwyn Bay which in turn became the North Wales Sensory Centre, bringing RNIB, Action Hearing Loss, and Guide Dogs under one roof.
2016 – Rebranding to COS
Renamed to Centre of Sign-Sign and Sound (COS) to reflect expanded services, including national projects in partnership with Action on Hearing Loss, and work with individuals with dual sensory loss.
2025 – Consolidated the COS Brand
Updated the brand and communication strategy to reflect the evolving needs of the community we serve.