Commuters at St. Pancras International Station were stopped in their tracks by the sight of famous faces and everyday people inside a large transparent box installed by RNID during Deaf Awareness Week (4 – 10 May 2026), exposing the invisible communication barriers deaf people and people with hearing loss face every day.

RNID – the national charity supporting the 18 million people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or tinnitus – invited members of the public to step inside the transparent box to better understand the hidden barriers that can make communication more difficult.

As one of the UK’s busiest train stations, St. Pancras International was the perfect setting for this stunt, offering vital exposure to audiences from far beyond London. In the natural hustle and bustle of the concourse, situated next to international departures, the box made everyday interactions suddenly difficult, awkward or even impossible. Usual methods of communication didn’t work and though every effort was made, many were tempted to give up.

These experiences reflect the daily reality for millions of people who are deaf or have hearing loss, where daily interactions can feel isolating, frustrating and exhausting.

Familiar faces including disability activist, TV personality and Strictly star Tasha Ghouri also stepped into the box on the day, helping to show the power of small changes in communication.

This comes as RNID’s new research shows almost a quarter (23%) of people would avoid a conversation with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss, if they thought communicating with them would be too difficult.

The research also found:

Almost a third (32%) of people worry about saying or doing the wrong thing when communicating with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss.

More than 2 in 5 (43%) of people worry they may seem patronising when trying to communicate with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss.

However, the study suggested that many people do want to communicate better with people who are deaf or have hearing loss, but think they may lack the skills and confidence.

RNID gave people some easy communication tips and BSL phrases to follow from the charity’s ‘It does matter’ campaign. With these simple changes – like getting the person’s attention, letting them see their lips and learning a basic British Sign Language (BSL) phrase, interactions became easier and the communication barriers people faced were quickly broken down.

Tasha Ghouri said: “Being deaf in a world made for hearing people can feel like being in an invisible box. Today with RNID, we made these barriers visible to show people how everyday things like having a simple conversation, which some people may not give a second thought, can be a real struggle if you are deaf.

“The good news is, a more inclusive world is within reach. By changing the way we communicate, a few small adjustments can ensure deaf people are part of the conversation and no longer face barriers and hurdles.”

Crystal Rolfe, Director of Health at RNID, said: “Everyday communication can be full of invisible barriers for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. From going to the shops to catching public transport, it can feel like you are cut off from the rest of society.

“Our research shows the effect this has on millions of people who are deaf or have hearing loss. Negative experiences build up over time and have a significant impact, making people feel lonely and isolated.

“However, we know people want to communicate better and have seen today that by making a few simple changes, we can break these barriers down. Simple actions like getting someone’s attention or learning some basic British Sign Language ensures that everyone is included and ensures everyone is included in the conversation.”

Joel Herga. Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at London St. Pancras Highspeed, said: “We’re thrilled to support this great initiative for Deaf Awareness Week. Inclusivity in travel

is extremely important to us here at London St. Pancras Highspeed and we fully endorse the work of the RNID”.

This Deaf Awareness Week, RNID is calling for the public to join their ‘It does matter’ campaign which equips people with simple communication tips and videos to learn basic phrases in British Sign Language (BSL). Almost 50,000 people have joined the campaign so far.

Sign up for RNID’s communication tips, including videos of simple British Sign Language phrases you can learn, and find out what small changes you can make to show ‘It does matter’ www.rnid.org.uk/it-does-matter

ENDS

Media enquiries:

Contact the RNID press team: 07990 441402 or PRteam@rnid.org.uk

About RNID

RNID is the national charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.

Currently, one in three adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.

Founded in 1911, for more than 100 years RNID has been helping people with hearing loss, pioneering new treatments and campaigning for change. The charity successfully lobbied the NHS to provide free hearing aids in 1948 and free hearing screening for every newborn baby in 2000. RNID is the only charity of its kind in the UK dedicated to funding biomedical hearing research.

Hundreds of thousands of people have checked their hearing thanks to RNID’s free online hearing check. It takes just three minutes and results are provided straight away. Visit www.rnid.org.uk/check

If you (or someone close to you) are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus and need free confidential and impartial information and support, contact RNID. We are open 8:30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Find out how to contact RNID at www.rnid.org.uk/contact

About London St. Pancras International

London St. Pancras International is a unique Grade I listed building, offering a wealth of stylish and premium shops, bars and restaurants all under one iconic roof. The venue is a destination in its own right as well as a world-class train station, known for its calendar of new and exciting cultural experiences.

Methodology

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 UK Nationally representative respondents (18+). The data was collected between 27.03.2026 – 30.03.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC). It is a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge and adheres to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

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