The head of Gloucestershire Freemasons, Tim Henderson-Ross, visited GDA (Gloucestershire Deaf Association) to learn how the grant of almost £4,000 is being used to enable more people to access their life-changing services.
The Gloucestershire Charitable Foundation and Masonic Charitable Foundation came together to provide the funds in response to a grant application from the charity. Those isolated by deafness found it difficult to get to the charity’s facilities in Barnwood and this grant will help to provide transport.
The charity was founded in 1919 and provides a happy environment where those with hearing loss can understand and be understood. They provide social events for adults, for children and their families, classes in British Sign Language (BSL) and lip reading, help with the provision of specialist equipment, provide emotional support for those struggling to come to terms with hearing loss, help in gaining suitable employment and also champion the provision of BSL Interpreters for a range of different situations such as medical appointments.
Tim Henderson-Ross, head of the Gloucestershire Freemasons, said: “I was delighted to visit such a happy place and pleased that the grant will enable many more deaf people who will benefit from their support to do so.”
Sharon Bryant, Chief Executive of GDA (Gloucestershire Deaf Association), said: “The way deafness turns the world into a difficult and often hostile place is impossible for others to fully understand. I’m proud of the difference we’re able to make to the lives of those who live with deafness and very grateful to the grant from the Freemasons which will enable us to offer those services to people we couldn’t otherwise reach.”
