Bury Deaf charity sparks online criticism after it rebrands to ‘hearing hub’ (BSL)

A Deaf charity based in Bury, Greater Manchester, has sparked a social media backlash after it was revealed the service – which includes a Deaf club – rebranded to ‘Bury Hearing Hub’.

The organisation – previously known as Communic8te – also provides British Sign Language courses, lipreading classes and social afternoons and evenings.

However, in a tweet posted on Sunday, content creator and child of Deaf adults (CODA) Emma’s Memoirs wrote: “Our local Deaf club has been rebranded as the ‘Hearing Hub’ … by hearing people.

“Please make it make sense.”

Speaking to The Limping Chicken, Emma claimed the name change was made by the charity’s trustees who are all hearing and “cannot communicate in BSL”.

“The main thing to be annoyed about is the poor communication from the trustees, making decisions like changing the name of a club that has been in the community for Deaf members, for many years, without discussing it with them first. 

“From what my Dad tells me, they are all upset with the name change and the fact the club is being managed by hearing folk, and they are planning a meeting at the end of this month to find temporary trustees who can take over the people currently filling those roles,” she said.

our local Deaf club has been rebranded as the “Hearing Hub” … by hearing people… ugh i feel so mad about it. pls make it make sense 🫠

— emma 🤟 (@emmastweets_) January 8, 2023

 

In response to a request for comment, Bury Hearing Hub told The Limping Chicken no such meeting has been arranged.

The organisation’s trustees said: “The charity approached new trustees as it was struggling financially with considerable losses over a six-year period. 

“Following considerable time and energy over the last six months the charity is now in a sustainable position and break even [sic]. Had this not happened Communic8te would no longer exist at this time, and would have the same board in place, none of whom were Deaf.

“The new ‘brand’ allows the charity to show that it is there to service and support all those with different degrees of hearing loss and Deaf and of all ages etc, something it must do to survive and be sustainable. A ‘Hub’ so to speak.”

They also confirmed one of the organisation’s board members – of which three trustees are listed on the Charity Commission’s website – is hard of hearing, and added all service users were invited to a meeting held late last year, where the above information was discussed.

“Users left understanding and happy that in order to protect and sustain the ‘Deaf Club’ which is one activity provided at Bury Hearing Hub for the Deaf community the charity needed to modernise.

“The charity is in the process of constructing a working committee of users who the trustees can consult on a regular basis, and a BSL interpreter has also been recruited to volunteer as required. Both of which did not previously exist.

“The charity is also in the process of constructing a new website showing that Bury Deaf Club is one of several provisions on offer at Bury Hearing Hub to ensure the Deaf community have clear access to all information,” they said.

Photo: Google.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.