Auditory Verbal UK is a charity that supports deaf children and their families from across the UK. Founded in 2003, the charity works to increase awareness, understanding and access to auditory verbal therapy by providing services directly to families and sharing expertise with health and education professions. Services include a specialist early intervention programme to develop children’s listening, talking and social skills, laying the foundations for literacy and numeracy and an equal start at school. Each year, the charity works with over 160 families from centres in Oxfordshire and London.
Cala Homes, which is building homes at its Cala at Kingsmere development, launched the Cala Community Bursary in Bicester in February and invited organisations, charities and groups in the area to apply for a share of £5,000 to help fund projects that make a difference in the community. Auditory Verbal UK was chosen as a recipient of the bursary, with money going towards providing financial support to low and middle income families accessing auditory verbal support at their Oxfordshire centre.
Andrew and Joanne are parents of 6-year-old Sam. They spoke about their fears for Sam when he was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at just a few weeks old: “We were devastated and scared for our son’s future. No one in our family was deaf and we had no experience of knowingly meeting anyone else who was deaf. We thought that we would never be able to speak to him. We wouldn’t hear his views and opinions on life, culture, and politics. Nor, more importantly, would he ever be able to hear us tell him we love him.”
Sam graduated from AVUK in 2016 and now attends mainstream school. His parents are full of hope for the future: “We feel so optimistic about Sam’s bright future and we don’t feel his deafness will hold him back from achieving anything he wants to do.”
Anita Grover, CEO at Auditory Verbal UK, said: “90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, with no prior experience of deafness and the period afterwards can be overwhelming for families. Thanks to the generous donation from Cala Homes, we’ll be able to host more sessions for families across the UK. We hope to challenge outdated perceptions of what deaf children can achieve and ensure that their parents have access to support at a crucial stage in their child’s development.”
Mark Wright, Managing Director at Cala Homes (Midlands), said: “Community is placed firmly at the heart of Cala, and we are committed to making a positive and lasting contribution to organisations in the areas in which we build. We are delighted to be supporting Auditory Verbal UK through our Community Bursary scheme and we hope that the funding goes a long way to supporting the young children and families that need it most.”
This year, the Community Bursary scheme has awarded a total of £109,000 to 117 good causes across the UK. A further 200 causes have previously benefited from the scheme, with over £200,000 awarded to various initiatives since 2017.
Launching in September, Cala at Kingsmere comprises an exceptional collection of two, three and four bedroom homes and two bedroom apartments designed with light and spacious interiors, and low-maintenance living in mind. Located just two miles from the centre of Bicester, Cala at Kingsmere is just one mile from popular designer shopping outlet, Bicester Village.
For further information on Auditory Verbal UK, visit https://www.avuk.org.
For further information on Cala Homes and the Cala at Kingsmere development, visit https://www.cala.co.uk/homes-for-sale/midlands/cala-at-kingsmere
