Deafconnect’s Deaf Wellbeing Group was started more than 10 years ago, to give people who have a hearing loss or who are deaf a chance to socialise and communicate with others who use British Sign Language.
Facilitating activities for the group has become increasingly difficult due to the cost-of-living crisis, but a grant from the Northampton Queen’s Institute Relief Fund, which is managed by Northamptonshire Community Foundation, has enabled several weekly outings. Trip requests from members of the wellbeing group include going on a canal boat, visiting the balloon festival and model making.
Deafconnect also host a youth club, coffee drop-ins, open days, craft fairs and sign language classes, alongside various other events.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the county’s leading independent grant-making charity, providing much-needed and often life-changing grants to some of Northamptonshire’s most in-need residents. During the 2023/24 financial year, the foundation achieved their biggest grant-making year yet, awarding more than £2.9 million.