We’re delighted to reveal exciting plans to develop an adult residential and learning centre for our older deaf students – the only provision of its kind in the UK.
Since our move to Exmouth in 2020, student numbers have increased significantly, creating a need for additional residential space. To meet this need, we have bought a nearby property – the former convent in Long Causeway – which we will refurbish to create a 10-bed residential and learning space for students aged between 19 and 25.
We’ve also launched a fundraising campaign to raise funds for the visionary development which is just a few minutes away from our Douglas Avenue campus.
Sylvan Dewing, Principal of the Deaf Academy, said: “We provide education and care for Deaf students, the majority of whom have additional needs, from the ages of 9 to 25 years old. Our aim is to develop empowered, confident young people who are equipped to embark into adulthood with aspiration, skills and resilience.”
“We’re very grateful to the Exmouth community who have welcomed the Academy and our students so warmly following our relocation here in 2020. Since then, we have seen significant growth in student numbers and are continuing to receive a high number of enquiries. It became apparent that to enable us to expand our provision, we need to look at developing additional bespoke premises for our older students.”
The Deaf Academy is the only specialist deaf provider in the country that has a post 19 offer. The purchase of the Long Causeway building will help us to realise our vision to create a new adult residential and learning centre for those older students.
Sylvan added: “This visionary new residential provision will be an extension to our campus and will give our young adult students the support they need to prepare them for independent living and work. As many of our students have additional needs, they will also benefit hugely from an extension to their time in education.
“We have developed a post 19 work-based learning curriculum that helps to develop their skills, whilst having a strong focus on preparing for employment and for adulthood. It’s our aim to help our students become confident and independent, proud of who they are. We want them to contribute positively to our community and we believe we can help them to access the world of work or further education. Our plans for this incredible new 19-25 adult residential and learning centre can help us do just that.
“We’d also like to thank Links Estate Agents for their support throughout the purchase process. It was a great feeling to get the keys and show our students around the property.”
We are aiming to open the new centre in September. A JustGiving page has been set-up to allow parents, the community and friends of the Academy to support the project.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/adultcentreappeal
To find out more about the project, check out our Post 19 brochure.
