My name is Mark, and I am the Community Development Officer at the Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CfD). My role is funded by the Bristol Impact Fund, an initiative established by Bristol City Council to tackle inequality across the city. My specific focus is supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Bristol.
At the heart of my role is community development. I work closely with the local Deaf community to reduce social isolation by improving accessibility and creating inclusive opportunities to take part in social and recreational activities. By increasing participation in groups and activities, individuals are able to widen their social networks and, in turn, improve their health and wellbeing.
Before this role was established, the Deaf community in Bristol had become increasingly fragmented following the closure of the much-loved Deaf Club in 2014. For many Deaf people, the club had been a lifeline: a safe space, a social hub, and a central place to access information and services. Its closure meant that Deaf people suddenly lost this vital hub and were left to navigate services that had once been available in one location but were now dispersed across the city.
This highlighted a clear need for a dedicated community development role to rebuild connections, improve access to information, and support Deaf-led initiatives across Bristol.
Since I began the role in 2022, the range of activities available to Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Bristol has increased dramatically—from just two activities to thirteen. These include a wide variety of groups, ensuring opportunities are inclusive of different interests and needs.
Activities include a mixed walking football group and, more recently, a Padel group. In November 2025, the Padel group held its first local LTA-sanctioned Deaf and Hard of Hearing tournament at Rocket Padel, with just over 50 participants taking part. As a keen sportsman, I am particularly passionate about improving access to sport, having experienced many barriers myself.
However, there is also a large range of non-sporting activities available, including a Deaf sewing group, Deaf arts group, BSL board games sessions, and more ensuring there is something for everyone within the community.
Through the Bristol Impact Fund, we have also been able to establish Small Community Grants. These grants are open to any Deaf or Hard of Hearing person, with support available from CfD staff throughout the application process. Funding can be used for start-up costs, purchasing equipment, paying for communication support, or covering other essential expenses to help new and already established groups and activities maintain sustainability.
In 2011, I helped establish a Bristol Deaf 5-a-side football team alongside other Deaf men who shared a passion for football but faced communication barriers when trying to join local clubs. The team grew rapidly and soon developed into an 11-a-side squad, later becoming known as Bristol City Deaf Football Club.
I became the club’s manager in 2013 and remained in the role for over ten years. During this time, the team won the England Deaf Football Plate Cup four times, jointly holding the record with Fulham Deaf Football Club, and reached the English Deaf Football Challenge Cup final on two occasions.
I have also been fortunate to coach at an international level. In 2025, I was head coach of the GB Deaf Women’s Team at the historic 100th anniversary Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan. Previously, I coached the GB Men’s team at the 2009 Deaflympics in Taiwan and the 2011 European Deaf Championships in Denmark, as well as the GB Women’s team at the 2013 Deaflympics in Bulgaria.
Unlike the Paralympics, there is no central funding for athletes representing Great Britain at the Deaflympics. As such, the players not only committed to months of intensive training but also worked incredibly hard to raise all the funds required to participate.
I am extremely proud of the team, several of whom are Bristol-based, for winning a bronze medal at the 2025 Deaflympics.
