Families battle to save Bradford Family Centre
Parents fighting the closure of a family centre in Bradford which gives deaf children a chance of making it in mainstream schools have told of the impact the charity has had on their children.
The Elizabeth Foundation will shut on July 10 if it can't attract enough financial support to meet its £120,000 annual running costs.
Since the announcement was made in March, parents past and present of under-fives have embarked on a fundraising mission and they are staging a Funday Sunday, Toddle and Talk in the Park event in Lister Park on May 10.
But the parents cannot raise all the money themselves and they are hopeful business sponsors or individuals will set in and help.
Margaret Southern, senior teacher of the deaf at The Elizabeth Foundation, said: “The parents, on hearing the shocking news, have seized this as an opportunity to raise awareness of what The Elizabeth Foundation does and are working really hard to obtain sustainable funding.
“I have been overwhelmed by the parents’ responses. Their collaboration and support they are showing for each other is commendable. I feel very privileged to be working with these families.”
One parent, Andrew Midgley, 34, of Bingley, rallied his teammates at amateur football club Commercial FC to run the Bradford 10k last month. They raised £2,000 for the Foundation.
Mrs Southern said: “The news about The Elizabeth Foundation’s financial situation could not have come at a worse time for each and everyone of the families and still the parents are striving to put all their efforts into maintaining our provision which they see as a very necessary support to all deaf children and their families.
Businesses, groups and individuals interested in sponsoring a child or helping to obtain sustainable funding, can contact The Foundation via the website, by e-mail or by calling 01274 382282.
