OUR TEAM

Our dedicated team consists of a group of highly experienced, qualified professionals, external deaf specialists, volunteers and Trustees committed to improving the lives of children and families with hearing loss.
The majority of our team have lived experience of deafness/hearing loss, either personally or within their families, and are current or former Family Centre service users. Children, young people and families with hearing loss are at the heart of everything we do.

Helen-Centre Manager

“I joined The Family Centre in January 2021, I’m passionate about supporting children, young people and their families living with deafness.  When I saw the job vacancy, I knew I had to apply. I really wanted to play a part in helping The Family Centre achieve its aims. I have three children; my youngest daughter Gwen has a bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss. Gwen currently attends our local comprehensive school, is an outgoing young lady who also enjoys being part of The Family Centre”

Deniro-Events & Family Officer

“Although I’m a fairly new member of the staff team, I’ve been actively involved with the local deaf community for many years now because my younger sister was born profoundly deaf. Being deaf has always come as a ‘badge of pride’ to my sister, my family and the local deaf community that we’ve had the privilege to be part of.  I’m also a confident BSL user with plans in place to become a qualified BSL interpreter in the near future.

My personal lived experience of hearing loss has given me a strong desire and commitment to do all that I can to make sure local deaf children have access to the same opportunities as their hearing peers and that they aren’t disadvantaged in any shape or form. My main aspirations for my new role are to make sure Family Centre events and activities are as inclusive, fun and engaging as possible and that we can provide the high-quality support services local deaf children and their families deserve”

MONIQUE-DEVELOPMENT Officer(p/T)

“Having worked as a development manager for national children’s and youth charities for many years, I began working with the Family Centre team in a consultancy capacity in 2023. I was so impressed by the incredible work and impact of this small local charity that it soon became close to my heart and I just had to get more involved! My role focuses mainly on further developing the charity and ensuring it has the resources it needs to provide the best possible services and outcomes for local families, children and young people with hearing loss”

TRUSTEES

Neil Curry (Chair/Treasurer)

“I was elected as a Trustee to the FCDC at the AGM held on 20th Nov 2016. I live in Bradley Stoke, in Bristol and I am the grandfather of Savannah who will be 10 years old on Christmas Day 2024. Savannah was born with severe hearing impairment (HI) but could hear with the aid of her hearing aids but as her hearing deteriorated she was successfully transitioned to Bi-lateral Cochlea Implants which she received in May 2017. Savannah is in mainstream school and thriving. As a family we did not really know the impact of HI until it affected us and naturally we have been really grateful for all the help, over the years, that she has received from the relevant support agencies and I was keen to help out as best I could. My role as a Trustee graduated into becoming the Chair of the charity during the Covid period and I see my role as developing the Charity and making it as sustainable as possible for the future.”

Sarah Evans 

“I have been a trustee for the FCDC for three years. My interest mainly arose from having worked alongside the FCDC in my current role as Team Leader for the Hearing Team at the Sensory Support Service. I am a qualified Teacher of the Deaf and have taught deaf children in Bristol for 27 years in variety of setting – HIRBs, Elmfield School and now for the Service. I have always been involved with the Deaf community, my father was profoundly deaf as were all of his friends. The importance of this friendship group to our whole family could never be underestimated. I value the aims of FCDC to create these links for families and see first hand the impact it has in reducing isolation and creating a strong and supportive network.”

Steve Thompson

“I am a parent of a profoundly deaf child, so keen to improve cohesion and communication with other members of the local d/Deaf community, promote Deaf awareness, and to provide d/Deaf children and their families with an environment to socialise. I am eager to support and ‘give back’ to an organisation that has previously supported and continues to support our family.”

Kaisha

“I am a parent to a child with hearing loss. My daughter has Auditory neuropathy in one ear which presents as a profound loss and a moderate hearing loss in the other. When I first found out my daughter had a hearing loss I felt lost as many parents can feel at this time. However, the support The Family Centre has given me and my family changed this. I felt part of a community. I felt heard and supported. I wanted to become a trustee to an organisation that has supported my family so much. I truly value FCDC and stand by there values and beliefs, I feel proud to be a trustee and use professional and personal experiences to give back to a charity that has helped  us so much”.

LIZZY LAWRENCE

“My daughter has a bilateral sensioneural moderate hearing loss. I’ve been attending Family Centre events for years. The events are a fun opportunity for my daughter to be around other children who are deaf. We enjoyed the events so much I wanted to become a trustee to help ensure they continue and other families can benefit like we have.“

SAMANTHA

“My gorgeous Grandson has mild hearing loss and has been wearing a hearing aid since he was 3.5 yrs old. Since the diagnosis, the support he’s had and the ability to mix with others who wear hearing aids has allowed him to feel less different/isolated. I’m extremely grateful that FCDC exist and are able to provide opportunities for my Grandson to spend time with others in the deaf community. I’m happy to give back so that he and others can continue to make use of this resource/service provision – it’s unparralled in the Bristol / Bath area and it’s vital for the health and well-being of our deaf youngsters. It’s also important that our society recognises the importance of inclusivity and FCDC provides a mechanism for the ‘voice’ of the deaf community to be heard..“

We are all committed to providing a network and a space for deaf children and their families and would like to work with everyone to achieve this.