Deaf Access Cymru

Deaf Access Cymru has been awarded £158,870 over three years from the Big Lottery, to support the development of Deaf Clubs in Wales.

The new project starts in April 2012 after recruiting a project worker and will receive funding for 3 years, and will ensure that six selected Deaf clubs in Wales are supported by training to become robust and self supported by way of generating it’s own income by way of providing services for it’s local community.

Deaf Clubs have been in decline due to the changing make up of the Deaf community, and external influences like technology. As a result local Deaf communities are at risk of fragmentation which amongst other things results in reduced access to information (especially in sign language) and community engagement, where Deaf people have the chance to take a lead.

The Chair of DAC, Dafydd Eveleigh stated, "DAC is grateful to the Big Lottery for substantial award. It will enable DAC to provide support to the Deaf community in a new innovative way. By empowering local communities to support themselves, this represents a departure from the traditional model of a large organisation supporting each individual in isolation. Isolation is the biggest threat to Deaf and hard of hearing people with approximately 45% of the community suffering long term mental health. By creating a network of communities we can reduce the isolation and improve the services that Deaf and hard of hearing people need to achieve an independent life. The project represents putting ability in the hands of the many rather than just the few."

Richard Jones, Development Officer said, “Now the hard works begins, there is much to do which starts with the recruitment of a project worker and setting up of steering group to oversee the project. I would like to thank Council of Voluntary Services of Blaenau Gwent, Gwent, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Wrexham for showing their support towards the challenging project. They will be involved in the project working with these Deaf clubs to enable them to support themselves.

Deaf Access Cymru are in talks with Mold Alun School looking at setting up after school activity / lunch club for deaf children at the school. We will be looking for local young deaf volunteers to work with DAC and Mold Alun School to run the activities.

DAC see's this as a wonderful opportunity to copy what it is seeking to provide in Mid and South Wales and will be seeking to roll this out to other schools in North Wales in the future as it falls in line with one of our aims to develop outreach work with deaf children.