Not just a lot of hot air

Thu, Nov 16th 2006, 11:00

A Bridgend club for deaf people is looking to escape the cold with a new heating system.

The brand new gas heating system will be installed at Bridgend Deaf Club’s hall on Coychurch Road, Brackla, and house builder Redrow, responsible for the Coed Castell new homes development nearby, has contributed £250 towards the cost.
The club mainly provides a social base for local deaf people, with its own bar that is used as a meeting place. Members also take part in sporting activities, organised trips and a range of other activities.

Club member Des Wilkins approached Redrow, whose development is based on the same road as the hall. Speaking on behalf of the club’s chairperson, Hazel Rutherford, he said: “We would like to extend a huge thank you to Redrow for their generous donation. In total, we need £12,000 to get rid of our unreliable old heating and install a brand new gas system, so all donations are very welcome.

“The club meets regularly in the hall and we also use it to host visitors from all over the country and even from overseas. We were even visited recently by a deaf rugby team from Japan.

“A major part of helping our members integrate into the community is allowing non-deaf groups such as parent and child groups to use the hall. We really need to make the venue suitable not just for our members and visitors, but for members of other local clubs and societies who use the hall as well.”

Redrow is well known as a developer in and around Bridgend, currently building 192 new homes at the Coed Castell development.

Andy Jarrett, sales director of Redrow Homes (South Wales), said: “We were delighted to be able to help the Deaf Club towards their fund-raising target. Supporting the communities that live in the areas in which we build is very important to us and we are keen to help clubs like these because they make a real difference to peoples lives.”

Redrow regularly raises funds for worthwhile causes and this year retained its business in the Community PerCent standard for the third consecutive year, an accolade which only goes to those UK companies that give 1% or more of their annual pre-tax profits to the community by way of donations, gifts in kind and staff volunteering.

Although Redrow’s donation and other contributions have made in-roads into the total required, Bridgend Deaf Club still needs £6,000 to make its new heating system a reality. To make a donation call Des Wilkins on 01656 863 087.

For details about Redrow’s work in the community or for information about its developments across South Wales – including Coed Castell and Tir Lan, in Brackla, plus Dôl Gorwel in North Cornelly, near Bridgend – call the sales hotline on 02920 731 521.