New Forest Deaf Club
This October our deaf club hosted a fundraiser to raise funds for TEAM GB for the upcoming November Tokyo Deaflympics;
We hosted an exciting, prize filled, fun, Bingo night to raise awareness and funds.
This November Japan is hosting the 100th anniversary of the Deaflympics. A true celebration of sheer grit, determination and spirit in the deaf community. Did you know that deaf people do not qualify to join the Paralympics and although can qualify for the Olympics, are at a disadvantage with races starting with pistols instead of lights and referees using whistles rather than flags.
Unlike the Olympics or Paralympics, Deaflympics get NO FUNDING for their games. Each qualifying athlete for Team GB has to raise their own funds for flights, accommodation, kit, training, food etc.
My friend and colleague Adam Thomas has been training with Team GB all Summer. Adam and I support vulnerable deaf adults in supported living in The New Forest. These vulnerable adults are a huge part of our social deaf club and Milford on Sea’s community. They so look forward to coming each month and were thrilled to host a Bingo night.
Boo Holmquest TSLI is the Domiciliary Manager of the Achieve Together homes and did a sterling job as our interpreter for the evening.
Money raised was donated to team GB’s just giving page from The New Forest D/deaf Club.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/deaflympicsgb
Our very kind businesses in the village donated some wonderful prizes. Thank you to the Milford on Sea Club who donated their fancy bingo machine (which lights up the numbers) and the bingo books. Huge THANK YOU also to The Smugglers Inn, No 64 home and lifestyle shop, The Lighthouse pub and restaurant, Mr Pinks Fish & Chip shop, The Beach House Hotel, Monsoori Heights Indian Restaurant and Achieve Together for donating the prizes on the night.
THANK YOU to everyone for coming out and making it such a successful evening. It was great fun and we did good! UK Deaf Sport were very grateful for our donation. Below is a message from their operations manager Kathryn Halsey.
Dear Nancy,
Thank you ever so much for your incredibly generous donation. All received our side.
Please do thank all those involved for supporting the DeaflympicsGB team heading to Tokyo.
With very best wishes,
Kathryn
Thank you as always to The Cave for hosting our fab club.
Nancy, x
The Cave Wine Bar owned by Nancy’s partner Jon, hosts the New Forest Deaf Club on the first Tuesday of every month between 17:00 – 20:00
Free Entry.
All Welcome!
The Cave wine bar in Milford
17:00 – 20:00
Happy Half Year Anniversary on your Deaf Club!
Thank you for being pivotal bringing people together.
Giving many opportunities to folks mingling and signing together.
-Dan
Thank you for keeping us ‘in touch’ with this great initiative! We feel connected! Continued success.
-Peter and Linda
Can’t we do this every two weeks rather than every month – it’s brilliant, thank you!
-Ange
I have been to many deaf clubs and this is definitely the most friendly. All the staff are great and so deaf aware.
-Boo
I felt so nervous to come; I wasn’t going to, and then I walked past… and eventually I came in. I’m SO glad I did, it’s great, thank you!
-Fiona
(Started with deaf club, then our 10 week deaf awareness and intro to BSL workshops and is now completing her Signature Level 1 BSL)
I haven’t smiled this much in ages. Thank you so much for encouraging me to come along. What a beautiful thing you have created. Thank you, x
-Hannah
Dear Nancy,
Thank you ever so much for your incredibly generous donation. All received our side.
Please do thank all those involved for supporting the DeaflympicsGB team heading to Tokyo.
With very best wishes,
-Kathryn Halsey
Operations Manager – Team GB Deaflympics
This is absolutely FANTASTIC! I love watching all the signers – fascinating. I have not seen my Uncle (Deaf) this happy in ages. He has travelled from Staffordshire for this today and cannot wait to move closer and attend more regularly – it’s just brilliant, thank you!
-Christopher
Are you some sort of matchmaker…. I have made some wonderful connections this evening! I have so much in common with these ladies, we have swapped numbers and will meet up in between deaf club too. It’s been wonderful, I’m glad I came, thank you.
-Mikki
What a great evening, so good seeing everyone! Thank you for everything you do…
-Amanda
This is so encouraging for people like me who are losing more and more sounds. You probably noticed that most of Tuesdays session I was doing more lipreading than signing, but each month, with different people I use different methods. I also get many tips on how to cope in different situations. It’s great that the person I am talking to doesn’t get frustrated with me as they deal with the same problems. Whether you can hear or not, the fact that someone makes an effort to gather disabled people together is fantastic. Keep up the good work that you do!
-Joan
Thank you so much for another lovely evening & being so welcoming to my friend who absolutely loved it, in spite of being so nervous. We’ll see you again next month!
-Jan