£7,000 boost for deaf group

PROFOUNDLY deaf Rotherham residents are being encouraged to join a new community group which has benefited from a £7,233 grant.

Rotherham Federation of Communities Ltd (RotherFed) has been awarded the cash by Awards for All — part of the Big Lottery Fund — to help sustain and develop Rotherham Deaf Futures group, which is run by British Sign Language users.

Steve Ruffle, from RotherFed, said: "Rotherham Deaf Futures is a fantastic group, an independent voice of Deaf people in Rotherham and this Awards for All grant will help the group continue to develop and flourish during 2015."

Rotherham Deaf Futures will organise public meetings throughout the year offering a variety of advice and training along with a social element.

The first free session, including sandwiches, will take place at Springwell Gardens Community Centre, Eastwood, from 5pm to 7pm on January 20.

Organised in collaboration with Citizens Advice Bureau, the session will look at the ways to organise the best energy deal.