Sensory Impairment Shropshire
Deaf and Deafened
Sensory Impairment Shropshire Deaf and Deafened |
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SHROPSHIRE CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION WITH DEAF PEOPLE The Association can best be described by reference to the historical background. In the 1950’s Brierley House in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury was bought by the Church Mission Committee of the Diocese of Lichfield and was adapted and renovated over subsequent years by grants from various bodies following appeals made by the chairman of its managing committee, Revd Michael Pollit. Brierley House was used as a centre for the deaf and included social facilities (meeting rooms, bar, kitchen, snooker room, etc) as well as a chapel. Until 1992 both Brierley House & the Rupert St centre for the deaf in Wolverhampton were run as one charity but each set of premises were responsible for their own management and running expenses. In 1992 it was decided to split these into two separate charities. Thus the SHROPSHIRE CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION WITH DEAF PEOPLE (‘SCAD’) was formed, and registered with the Charity Commission in 1993. The objective of the Association is primarily to assist deaf people in the County of Shropshire in whatever manner is consistent with its Christian heritage. For many years the main work of the Association was the upkeep and financing of Brierley House. However, because of the high costs of maintenance and under-use of the building, Brierley House was sold in 2002. The proceeds of the sale were invested with the Lichfield Diocesan Trust. Since the sale, the Trustees of the Association have made various grants including to support Shrewsbury Deaf Club, which has continued to meet at different premises in the town, and also Telford and Wrekin Deaf Club, which has recently shown rapid growth in membership & is currently the larger of the two deaf clubs in the County. Since 2005, the Trustees have also engaged part-time Outreach Workers with dDeaf people, both of them deaf themselves. The first was Revd Dr Hannah Lewis until she left the area in 2006. Her successor, from Sept 2008, was Mrs Joanne Rose, who continues to be our Outreach Worker and is a very active and enthusiastic participant in Shropshire’s deaf community. She is a prominent member of Telford and Wrekin Deaf Club. Contacts: |