New project for deaf young people in Wales receives National Lottery funding

NDCS Press Release

A new project that will support deaf young people across Wales is set to start this September, thanks to funding from the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund.

The Gearing Up project, run by the National Deaf Children’s Society, will run for three years and support deaf young people aged 14 – 18 as they take their first steps into adulthood.

The project will offer a range of activities including, workshops on personal and emotional development that will help deaf young people decide whether they want to go to university or into employment, and ‘Young Leader Weekends’ that will develop confidence and leadership skills.

Deaf young people will also be encouraged to take part in training opportunities such as sports coaching or arts qualifications to enable them to develop skills and become deaf role models themselves.

Jayne Dulson, Director, Wales at the National Deaf Children’s Society says; “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this grant. It will help us to support more deaf young people in Wales and help them realise their potential.”

The aim of the Gearing Up project will be to strengthen deaf young people’s social support networks, as well as ensure they feel less isolated.

Jayne Dulson continued: “Deaf young people are 60% more likely to develop mental health problems than hearing peers and are likely to have low self-esteem, so it is particularly crucial to support deaf young people as they leave school and move onto Higher Education or employment. Thanks to the Big Lottery Fund, the Gearing Up project will support deaf young people in Wales to feel less isolated and more confident for their future.”

The National Deaf Children’s Society is the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. It helps deaf children and young people thrive by providing impartial, practical and emotional support to them and their families, and by challenging governments and society to meet their needs.

The Gearing Up project has received a total of £223,622 funding from the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund for the project over its three years.