Communic8te Bury is a local charity which aims to enhance the quality of life for people throughout Bury and the surrounding area who are deaf or who have a hearing loss.
One of the major aspects of life for someone with hearing loss is the sense of isolation. Communic8te helps to overcome this isolation by having regular socials. They also provide a range of activities to support people with hearing loss such as taking sign language courses, and providing guidance on hearing aids and other useful aids (eg flashing light smoke alarms and door bells).
Its chairman is W/Bro Peter Ashworth, a former councillor and past Mayor of Bury, and the manager is Robert Quayle. Robert is profoundly deaf.
Communic8te is open 5 days each week and is situated in one of the large terraced houses on Knowsley Street between the Town Hall and the East Lancs Railway. The building has been welcoming deaf people for over 70 years. A lady called Mrs Wallwork allowed deaf people to use her home to meet up and then she sold the building to them in 1948.
The building has four floors, and Communic8te are currently involved in refurbishing the basement to turn it into an office suite for the volunteers. The donation from the ELMC will be used to provide computer equipment for the chairman and other volunteers to be able to communicate online.
Bury District Charity Steward Steve Clark presented the cheque to W/Bro Peter Ashworth witnessed by his opposite number from Salford District, Stan Jackson.
