A SIGN language specialist is shortlisted for a national award for her dedication to education, after teaching thousands of people use the communicative skill.

Gaye Hampton, who runs the Newport Sign Language Studies Centre with her husband Charles, is one of the finalists in the Leadership in Education Award at the national Signature Annual Awards.

The centre also runs a ‘Hush Club’ to provide students of all levels a relaxed and informal setting to practice conversations in sign language.

Mrs Hampton, from Abersychan, launched the club to provide students with the opportunity to provide real experiences without disrupting leisure time at deaf clubs.

She said: “It is an honour to be nominated for this award, and I am very much looking forward to the ceremony in London next January.

“Charles and I started teaching in 2004 as self-employed, delivering deaf and deafblind awareness courses. As our reputation and contacts grew we decided to rent a base for our business.”

Mrs Hampton completed her post-graduate diploma at Durham University in Interpreting in the Deaf Community in 2007.

She took the course while running the Newport Sign Language Studies Centre to further her knowledge and understanding of interpreting.

“We eventually expanded so much to take on our own premises which has rooms to accommodate teaching, resources, private study and a tea and coffee space,” said Mrs Hampton.

“Our aim and motto has always been quality over quantity, focussing on the individual students and needs, which has always been at the centre of our teaching.

“We want to provide opportunities for our students to grow and develop and not just provide a basic tutorial service.”

The Signature Annual Awards celebrates people across the UK who are involved in providing a positive impact on the lives of some of the 11 million deaf and hard of hearing people living in the country.

Signature executive director Lindsay Foster said: "We are impressed every year by the amazing stories that are uncovered through our awards and it gives us great pleasure in being able to celebrate the great work that is being done to promote and improve deaf communication across the UK.

“This year, the Signature Annual Awards will focus on ‘educators’, including new and experienced teachers of British Sign Language and teachers of the deaf, groups or individuals in the local community who create exciting learning opportunities for deaf and hearing impaired people, and business people who are improving customer service for deaf and deafblind people through staff training.

“Gaye fits this category perfectly thanks to her dedication to helping thousands of people learn how to sign.”