Olivia’s lesson for centre’s VIP guests

Photo: Picture: Mark Waugh

HAPPY anniversary . . . Olivia Devlin celebrates the 165th anniversary and the centre’s makeover with other users and VIP guests.

FAILSWORTH teenager Olivia Devlin met a host of VIPs as she helped Manchester Deaf Centre celebrate its 165th anniversary.

The 15-year-old, who regularly attends a youth club for young deaf people at the centre, welcomed Warren J Smith JP, Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, and Manchester’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Mark Hackett.

The centre has undergone a £650,000 facelift, funded by the Helping Hands Appeal, to provide the region’s deaf community with state-of-the-art facilities.

The centre provides a number of vital resources for deaf, blind and hard of hearing people of all ages, such as the communication service which allows direct access to sign language interpreters to meet their day-to-day needs.

Olivia uses British Sign Language and taught the VIP guests some key phrases.

She said: “It was great to teach our guests some British Sign Language, introduce them to other young people who use the centre and give them a tour. Our youth space is an important meeting point for young deaf people from across Greater Manchester.

“I’m very proud to be part of something that’s been here since 1846. I’m looking forward to being part of the centre’s exciting future together with the friends I’ve made here. The youth club is very friendly, we’re always up for meeting new people and we want to welcome other young people.”

The Oxford Road centre is a popular social hub for the region’s deaf community and includes projects for the over 50s and clubs for six to 12 and 13 to 21 year olds.