A GRANT of more than £80,000 has been awarded to an organisation supporting deaf people across Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire Deaf Association (GDA) has been awarded £80,900 over two years by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales.

The funding will support the organisation’s My Friend Network project, providing training workshops around memory issues for older deaf people in Gloucestershire who use British Sign Language.

GDA chief executive Jenny Hopkins said the grant would help pay for trainers and interpreters a well as venue hire and technical support.

“We are committed to enabling hearing impaired older people to participate fully in the community,” she said.

“We work tirelessly to provide practical, as well as emotional support.

“This grant will allow us to deliver the My Friend Network project so that we can continue to improve the quality of life and independence and social inclusion for older people.”

LTSB grant manager for the west of England Emma Beeston said the foundation was working to help older people in difficult financial circumstances.

“The Lloyds TSB Foundation has a long history of supporting charities that work with older people,” she said.

“This investment is crucial at a time when funding for this vulnerable sector of our society is being cut. “This grant will enable GDA, through the My Friend Network project, to empower older deaf and hard of hearing people in the local community.”