See Hear - Series 29 - Episode 4

On this week's programme we'll be reporting on the UK's first signed Islamic prayer service, which was held last month at the East London Mosque in Whitechapel, London. Deaf worshippers had been unable to participate fully in the Friday services, where so much depends on being able to hear the words of the Imam's sermons. The charity Al-Isharah has not only organised for the service to be translated into BSL each week, but also for additional Koran classes to be signed for the benefit of deaf children. See Hear spoke to several deaf Muslims and their families - including the Ismails from Thamesmead - who have already been feeling the benefits of the new service. We've also been finding out how the recession has been affecting the business ventures of deaf entrepreneurs. We catch up with Andrew Thomson, who won an Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his online interpreting service, Paul Neal, who set up an interpreting and employment agency in 2005, and John Kilpatrick, who recently tried to open a BSL Café Bar in Derby. The report also discusses some of the significant barriers facing deaf entrepreneurs when they consult with business advisers and banks. Also on this week's programme, we'll be visiting the Museum of London, who are keen to find deaf people to share their memories of what life was like in the capital during World War Two. They want to film their signed memories over the next few months. And, in our latest instalment of Stories Behind the Signs, Memnos will be looking at how new signs have been created over the years because of changes in technology.