£20,000 National Lottery funding will help RJ Community CIC build a modern Deaf Community across Northamptonshire
RJ Community CIC has been awarded £20,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund for its new project, Connect, Lead & Thrive: Building a Modern Deaf Community.
The funding will support a 12-month project across North and West Northamptonshire, helping Deaf people build stronger connections, develop new activities and take a bigger role in shaping their own community.
April 2026 saw change in Deaf services across Northamptonshire with RJ Community CIC delivering the Information & Advice service and social opportunities.
The organisation’s Information, Advice and Support Service is already showing just how much need there is. In the first six months the service has supported people on 377 occasions, offering information, advice, drop-in sessions and social events.
People have needed support around a wide range of issues including communication and access, benefits and finances, housing and daily living, employment, travel and independence, equipment and technology, wellbeing and safeguarding.
“Your community, your way” is our slogan, and this is exactly what it means in practice: listening to Deaf people about the gaps they experience and what they would like us to deliver, then turning that feedback into action. Our new Lottery project will build on this work, shaped by what the community is telling us it needs.
RJ Community CIC will recruit and train Deaf Volunteer Community Connectors, who will help welcome people into the community, reduce isolation and support others to get involved. This will include social activities, Deaf-led groups and a community befriending scheme.
The project also includes piloting support for families with newly diagnosed Deaf children, helping them feel supported from the start. By connecting families with other parents, the Deaf community and accessible information, we aim to help them build confidence and see the possibilities ahead for their child.
Matthew Wheeler from RJ Community CIC said: “We’re really pleased to have secured this funding, but what matters just as much is what we’re building together with the Deaf community across Northamptonshire.
A huge thank you to all our funders, and the community support along the way!
Our slogan, ‘Your Community, Your Way’. It’s at the heart of everything we do, and we’re putting those words into action by listening to Deaf people and involving them in shaping our services and activities.
We’re seeing growing trust and engagement, with more people coming forward for support, connecting with others and sharing their ideas for the future. Our service data helps us better understand the needs of the community, but it’s the people themselves who are shaping and leading what comes next.”
The Deaf community in Northamptonshire has experienced significant changes over the past six months, and we recognise how important it is to listen to their views and understand what they want future services to look like.
We want to work collaboratively with councils, service providers and community organisations to improve accessibility, strengthen referral pathways and ensure Deaf people and their families have access to the right support, both now and in the long term.
Ultimately, this isn’t about who gets the credit. It’s about working together, avoiding gaps in provision and making sure Deaf people have the same opportunities to participate in their communities as everyone else.”
RJ Community CIC has worked alongside Corby Deaf Club, providing governance support, funding and practical help to get the club off the ground. It has since grown to include a thriving monthly social evening, bringing together more than 30 Deaf people - and a few dogs too!
When another group approached us for help setting up padel sessions, they trusted us to listen to their ideas and help make them happen. The sessions have been a real success, bringing Deaf people together to try something new, build friendships and enjoy being active. This shows community ideas brought to life with the right support.
RJ Community CIC was only established in 2026, but has already secured significant investment for Deaf services, activities and community development.
Together this totals over £70,000 of funding secured for local Deaf provision from 7 different funders.
In addition to funding for the Information and Advice Service, we have secured substantial financial support from other community funding pots available through West and North Northamptonshire councils. This additional funding supports mental health, wellbeing and wider community participation. Both councils have also actively supported service delivery, including through innovative use of shared working spaces.
RJ Community CIC is keen to work collaboratively with other providers, as well as councils, health services, voluntary organisations and community groups. This is very much the focus of the National Lottery grant with a focus on building partnerships and improving referral routes so that mainstream organisations become more accessible to Deaf, hard of hearing and Deafblind people in Northamptonshire.
The National Lottery-funded project will run from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027 across North and West Northamptonshire.
We will continue learning from Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing communities on their experiences, their ideas and what matters most to them. By understanding what is working, what could be better and what they would like to see next, we will shape our work around the community’s voice, bringing our promise of “Your community, your way” to life.