New Deaf Centre Gets Go-Ahead

From: SLOUGH DEAF CENTRE - Oct 12, 2006

Planners have given the go-ahead for a new centre for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Slough and East Berkshire, UK.

The £300,000 building will replace a run-down centre in Windmill Road, Slough, which had been used since the 1960s.

Now an appeal has gone out to local businesses and individuals to help raise the money to complete the new building.

The committee are working with High Wycombe-based builders Cirus and Maidenhead architects TPA on plans for the new building.

The plans are for a single-storey, multi-use building on the current site. The existing centre which was built by club members themselves more than 40 years ago is to be demolished.

Planning approval for the new building was granted by Slough Borough Council last week. Building work is expected to start this autumn with an opening planned for early next year.

Slough Deaf Centre chairperson Claire Kimble said: “We’re delighted planning approval has been granted. The next phase of the project is to get building started.

“It will be a superb new centre for the deaf and hearing impaired people of the area – one of the most modern in the country.

“We have raised the majority of the funds and are appealing to businesses and well-wishers to help us with the remainder.

Deaf Centre committee members have been working with the council’s Social Services Department to get the scheme off the ground. Long-tem plans include the building’s use for other people with sensory disabilities like the blind.

Once opened it will provide a range of recreational, religious and educational facilities and activities including youth, senior citizen’s, and parent and toddler groups, and IT classes.

“We are grateful for the immense help we have had from builders, architects, the council and local residents,” said Claire Kimble.

Interviews available with committee members. Let us know as soon as possible because we may have to arrange sign-language interpretation.

CONTACTS:
Chairperson Claire Kimble: By fax 01753-574025 or text: 07881-433710 or Melvynclaire5@btopenworld.com
Secretary Katie Erlam (hearing ) telephone 01628-631123 or 07976-964298 or katie@contactsbook.co.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS:
The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) says there are 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. That's one in seven of the UK population, and this number is rising as the number of people over 60 increases. About 698,000 of these people are severely or profoundly deaf. Another 450,000 of them are severely or profoundly deaf and cannot hear well enough to use a voice telephone, even with equipment to make it louder.
In the UK, there are about 20,000 children under 16 years old who are moderately to profoundly deaf. About 12,000 of these were born deaf. There are more than 30,000 deaf children and young people.

PICTURES:

1. Architect’s drawings for new Slough Deaf Centre.
Please note there is also easy access to the site for pictures of present building but please heed safety notices.