A SERVICE which provides support to deaf people is struggling to secure funding for the year ahead.

Barnabas Deaf and Community Service has been running for four years and needs £18,000 a year to run.

With funding they can continue to employ a person proficient in British Sign Language to accompany those with hearing difficulties when they need to access services within the wider community, such as social services, council services, or even at the Post Office. There are also drop-in events.

Pam Newman, who runs the service, said: "We’ve been told by our users that our service is a vital lifeline to them, and without us they would have no one else to turn to. Trust runs deeply within the deaf community because of the need to share private information with others in order to access services, and our users constantly say how much they trust us.

"Not only are users challenged by their hearing loss, but living in a sparsely populated rural community, such as Herefordshire, means accessing services in person is also challenging. Some struggle when dealing with legal or medical issues, form filling or having to interact with services by phone."

She has received some good news as they have just been awarded £10,000 from Awards for All. They just need to secure the remaining £8,000.

The drop-in events ensure that deaf people can meet and have quality social time using their first language.

There are usually two drop-in events. Currently there is one at Hereford’s St Peter's Church from 10am to 12pm every Wednesday. Once they secure a new venue there will also be a drop-in every Friday.

Ms Newman added: "There is a strong demand for our service and if we’re unable to fund it, then we will have to close and this will affect the deaf community in Herefordshire detrimentally."

The idea for the support service started from the Deaf Church, which used to run at St Barnabas in Venns Lane. Services stopped at St Barnabas in June of this year but the building is now leased to the Jubilee Church so there is the potential to return to St Barnabas.

The Deaf Church is funded by Hereford Diocese, other grant funding and from direct giving by members, and currently runs on the third Sunday of every month at 3pm at St Mary's Church in Grandstand Road.

If you think you can help with funding for the Barnabas Deaf and Community Service call 07717 172459 or email barnabasdeafservice@gmail.com.