MANCHESTER Metropolitan University is appealing for people to come forward to help deaf people by training to become lip-reading teachers.

The university is looking for mature people who have a warm, caring and professional approach and who speak clearly and who are willing to learn how to communicate with deaf people.

There is currently a shortage of teachers who are qualified to help people to develop lip-reading and other communication skills.

Anita Clokie Programme Co-ordinator said: "Qualified lip reading teachers are able to help hearing impaired people in many ways. These include enabling people to develop lip-reading and other communication skills, and helping those who use hearing aids to get greater benefit from them.

"In the relaxed and informal setting of a lip-reading class, the teacher also provides a great deal of information about, for example, helpful organisations and technical aids for the television, doorbell and telephone."

She added lip-reading teachers also help others to improve their communication skills with deaf people as well as understand deafness more fully.

Applications from deaf and hard of hearing people are welcomed. Ring 0161247 2565 for details.