As it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, The Ear Foundation has marked the start of work on its brand new building, Sound Space. The much anticipated new build will lead to significant expansion of the charity’s services to help deaf adults, children and their families.
The occasion was marked by a ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony which took place on Tuesday 20th May at The Ear Foundation premises in Sherwin Road, Lenton, Nottingham.
The £120,000 helping hand from D2N2’s Unlocking Investment for Growth programme, supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, has acted as the enabler to get the £700,000 expansion off the ground.
Chief Executive Sue Archbold says: “We have come such a long way since we launched our fundraising appeal to raise £0.7m in 2012. Thanks to many generous donations from businesses and individuals, to grant making bodies and charitable trusts, we are just £75,000 off our target and now in a position for the diggers to move in and to realise our vision. “
Special guests at the ceremony were the Sherman family. Marjorie Sherman funded the first child in the UK to have a cochlear implant 25 years ago in Nottingham and supported The Ear Foundation throughout her life. Her eldest daughter, Rosalyn Springer is now Patron of The Ear Foundation and the family continues to generously support the charity today.
The new building will double the accommodation for the charity on the current site, without doubling their costs. An additional 250 square metres of space will provide: a new group therapy room custom built for deaf children, families and adult groups; two sound-treated rehabilitation rooms; a technology suite with all the latest assisted listening devices for people to try; an information lab equipped for people to access all the latest information and technology in a comfortable friendly space, and a custom built workshop/seminar room for professionals and families where they can learn about how to manage the latest technologies.
