Deafersify CIC has received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £98,275 for an exciting heritage project, Deaf Connect, in Liverpool. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on the sporting achievements of Deaf people young and old.

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Supported through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project will enable young Deaf people to interview Deaf sports men and woman young and old to explore achievements accomplished in the face of many barriers and to document important accomplishments that could have been missed due to a lack of communication, awareness or coverage. Young Deaf people will be trained in interview skills, filming, editing and production and will create a series of short films that will be digitised, celebrated and published for all communities to view.  The project will provide 26 volunteering opportunities and 2 part-time employment opportunities for Deaf people, including the roles of a Project Co-ordinator and a Volunteer Co-ordinator.

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Deafersify CIC is an organisation that works to support and enhance the lives of Deaf and Deaf/Blind people and on this specific project we will help young Deaf people to develop media and communication. Working with a strong cohort of Deaf organisations around the country Deafersify CIC will support 24 young Deaf volunteers to delve into a part of their history they may never have known existed, a time pre-social media and pre-awareness.  This project will teach young Deaf people some valuable new skills to use as they develop their careers.

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Commenting on the award, Gemma Hunter BCAc said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are confident the project will support Deaf People to gain greater knowledge of and access to their sporting heritage.”

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Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "We are thrilled to support this project that will not only provide opportunities for employment but also help young D/deaf people develop new skills while exploring their sporting heritage. Encouraging people to discover their history is a positive for the heritage itself but also for people’s wellbeing and the strengthening of communities."