Insight: My concerns about changes to deaf services in Northamptonshire (BSL)

I’m writing this anonymously because the Deaf community is small, but what’s happening right now in Northamptonshire needs to be said.

This isn’t just about a service closing. This is about our history, our identity, and our community being pushed aside.

Our roots go back generations. It started as St Mark’s Mission of the deaf in 1874 then St Mark’s Northampton/ Rutland Mission of the Deaf when they bought a building in 1930. That shows how strong our community has always been.

From there, Deaf clubs grew. Spaces like Kettering Deaf Club, and Northampton Deaf Club became part of our lives—where we meet, sign, share stories, and feel like we belong.

Then came breaking away from pastoral and church run and led, it became Deafconnect. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours. It understood Deaf people, Deaf culture, and BSL. It supported people properly.

Now suddenly everything is changing.

RJ Care Ltd took over Deafconnect’s business functions, and now we’re being told it will close in July 2026. Just like that. No proper discussion. No real involvement from the Deaf community.

This has already been reported publicly, described as a “devastating blow” to a long-standing charity supporting Deaf people in Northampton, with calls for the council to step in.

This shows how serious the situation really is.

There are also wider concerns being raised that Deaf people in Northamptonshire could be pushed further into isolation if proper support is not protected.

This has been highlighted in the media here: https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/politics/concerns-deaf-people-in-northamptonshire-will-be-pushed-further-into-isolation-as-pleas-made-to-council-to-allocate-more-funding-6528293

This is not just about services—it’s about people being cut off from community, language, and connection.

At the same time, a new organisation—RJ Community CIC—appeared out of nowhere in January and wants to take over, especially places like the newly set up Corby Deaf Club.

People are not happy. People are upset. People feel ignored.

What makes it worse is that one of the trustees from Deafconnect is now involved in setting up this new organisation, with others who are not even from Northamptonshire. How is that right?

We are also hearing that RJ Community CIC is planning to expand into other counties such as Derbyshire and Cambridgeshire. This raises even bigger concerns—if this approach is already causing problems here, what will happen elsewhere?

And the name -“RJ Community CIC.” Where is the word “Deaf”? Why hide it? Why remove that identity?

That makes people feel uncomfortable. It feels like Deaf culture is being pushed out.

We already have Deaf-led spaces. Deaf First is a social organisation for the Deaf community in Northamptonshire, set up during the Covid lockdown, bringing people together for social life and connection at a time when people needed it most.

So why RJ Community CIC? Why bring in a new organisation, especially one that is hearing-led, instead of supporting what already exists within the Deaf community?

No one has properly asked us. No one has listened.

We are not against change. But this feels like decisions are being made over us, not with us.

And what about the future? Where will Deaf young people go after leaving school? How will they find their identity?

For generations, Deaf young people—especially those in mainstream schools from 16 to 21—have found themselves through Deaf clubs. That’s where they meet others like them, where they learn who they are, where BSL is natural, and where they feel they belong. That is still true today.

If these spaces disappear or are changed without care, what replaces them?

This is bigger than one organisation. This is about the next generation. This is our community. Our history. Our space.

You can’t just take it, rename it, and expect us to accept it. Deaf people in Northamptonshire deserve respect. We deserve to be part of decisions. And we deserve to protect what generations before us built.

Our history is not yours to rename. Our future is not yours to decide.

This blog has been written anonymously as part of the Insight series – created by Assistant editor Rebecca A Withey.

If you have a story, experience or viewpoint you would like to anonymously share please email Rebecca on  rebecca@rawithey.com

Image courtesy of Pexels