Breaking down barriers for deaf

A STRONG desire to break down barriers for Oldham’s deaf community has long been the mission of Anjum and Bharti Raza.

And the determination of the Coppice husband and wife team has led to the establishment of a hugely popular community group . . . and a Pride in Oldham nomination.

Anjum (34) and Bharti (36), who is profoundly deaf, set up Oldham Deaf and Diverse Community two years ago along with friends Waheed Chouhan, Afum Mahmood and Amar Jehangir.

The group — which now has 60 members — meets on the last Saturday of each month at Union Street Community Centre.

As well as having talks from lecturers across the country the group also enjoy trips out and have started their own dance and drama group to show that they can do anything hearing people can do.

The group’s football team Deaf Rhinos has won three cups since their formation, beating off competition from 11 hearing teams along the way.

Funding has already come from youth-empowerment team Kerching and Oldham Council but Anjum and Bharti are looking for money from other sources to expand the group and hold more regular sessions.

Anjum, intervention manager at Hathershaw Technology College, said: “My wife has always felt that awareness of the issues facing deaf people needed to be raised in Oldham.

“We are all about breaking down barriers and letting young deaf people know that they can achieve anything they want to.

“My wife works with deaf pupils in schools as well as raising awareness with other students and parents and some of the youngsters coming to our group look at her and think ‘if she can do it I can, too’.”

The group also serves to unite Oldham’s various communities on occasions such as Ramadan when they all feasted together after a talk about what the Holy Month means.

Anjum, a father of two, added: “We want to bring people together and we have members of all ages and races learning how to communicate better.

“Lots of work goes into preparing and running the sessions but it is all so worthwhile and this nomination is for the whole group.

“We are so overjoyed to be recognised for what we are doing.”

Chris Burnelt, head of the hearing resource centre at Hathershaw Technology College, nominated Anjum and Bharti for their dedication to helping the borough’s deaf population.