A NORTH Wales children's charity has opened a new deaf hub in Deeside, with help from a local homebuilder.
Chloe's and Sophie's Special Ears Fund (CSSEF) aims to give an "everlasting positive impact to brighten the lives of deaf children".
The charity successfully applied to the Love from Anwyl fund, set up by Anwyl Homes to help the community around its Summers Bridge development in Deeside.
Following a donation of £480, which has funded venue hire for 12 months, CSSEF has opened the new hub at Ty Calon, Queensferry, where children can interact and build relationships with deaf peers.
Anwyl Homes Advisor Anya Bertram with Ella and Alana. Photo: Mandy Jones
Zeta Lloyd, wish granting champion at CSSEF, said: "This interaction is vital to deaf children's happiness and development, but sadly so many children miss out on this opportunity. Our practical and emotional wellbeing support helps deaf children overcome barriers that prevent them from accessing the same opportunities as hearing children."
In the UK, it's estimated that 40% of deaf children battle mental health problems compared to 25% of hearing children.
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In North Wales, CSSEF supports children across Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire. This includes raising awareness to improve social inclusion for deaf children in schools and the community, improving sound acoustics in classrooms along with access to specialist equipment and resources, and providing funding for parents to learn British Sign Language.
In Flintshire there are 116 deaf children, and CSSEF is currently supporting 65 families with new referrals received frequently. They also grant wishes for children and conduct assemblies in schools.
Anwyl Homes attended the opening of a new Deaf Hub at Ty Calon in Queensferry which it helped to fund. From left: Zeta Lloyd, wish granting champion at CSSEF, Karen Jackson CEO of CSSEF, Charlotte Williams, wish granting champion at CSSEF and Anwyl's
Zeta added: "We are slowly building a deaf community that hasn't existed for the children in North Wales before. Our CSSEF Deaf Hub ensures families can come together once a month for workshops, events or for a cup of tea and a piece of cake, meeting deaf peers and deaf role models to help them feel less isolated.
"We wanted to create a space for the children to develop and maintain long-term relationships. We need funding to continue to create and grow a supportive network of families to build and improve mental wellbeing and reduce feelings of isolation for them.
"Thanks to the funding from Anwyl we are now able to offer our families the support that is needed."
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Graeme Gibb, sales director for Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales, said: "It's wonderful to see the work CSSEF is doing to support deaf children and their families in Flintshire. The new hub provides an opportunity for children to make new friends and socialise with their peers. We're so pleased we could assist with funding towards venue hire for the first 12 months."
• Chloe's and Sophie's Special Ears Fund is running its next Deaf Hub at Ty Calon on Saturday, October 12, from 2pm-4pm. Visit www.cssef.org.uk for more information.
• Love From Anwyl is a voluntary scheme attached to the 183 homes Anwyl is building at Summers Bridge. For more information see www.anwylhomes.co.uk/our-developments/summers-bridge
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