A CUMBRIAN charity is setting up a pop-up in Carlisle City Centre next week.

Cumbrian Deaf Association (CDA) is setting up a week-long exhibition in Paternoster Row.

The aim is to help bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing communities and to make Cumbria the most deaf aware county in England.

Caroline Howsley, general manager of Cumbria Deaf Association, said: “Deafness is a hidden disability, you can’t see it and people think you’re often being rude.

“We want to get Cumbria to be the most deaf aware county in England for residents and visitors alike.”

One of the CDA's missions is to make British Sign Language (BSL) more accessible and understood.

Those who visit the pop-up will be met with gingerbread men, giant foam hands and flip cards with Islamic translations all depicting the finger spelling alphabet.

There will be a variety of businesses and groups attending the pop-up and supporting Cumbria Deaf Association throughout the week.

These include hearing charity BID Cumbria, who will promote their services and share information about adaptive equipment for people with hearing loss.

Caroline said: “It’s going to be awesome, we’re all looking forward to it. It’s something different for us and we’re putting a different energy out there.”

“Our pop-up at Intro’s offices is going to look like the weirdest aunt in the world has opened her front room for people to come and chat.

“It’s not stuffy, it’s just come talk to us, whatever your language and whatever your situation.”

They will also be providing resources for businesses to enable them to better support customers and staff members who are deaf.

Cumbria Deaf Association offers workplace assessments as well as deaf awareness training.

They will be visiting local businesses with flyers containing the finger spelling alphabet to help them communicate with their deaf customers.

Caroline said: “We’re trying to bridge that gap between some of the knowledge between hearing communities and deaf communities, so it isn’t as intimidating.”

The Cumbria Deaf Association pop-up will be at the Intro headquarters on Paternoster Row from October 12 to 17 and will open between 10am-4pm.

For more information about Cumbria Deaf Association, go to www.cumbriadeaf.org.uk.