What we do

The Oxford Diocesan Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODCD) is a registered charity (Charity No: 203428). Our aim is to promote the spiritual, social and general wellbeing of those who are deaf or hard of hearing in the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

We do this through:

• Working to raise awareness amongst the hearing community of the needs of the deaf or hard of hearing to enable them to play as full a part as possible in the life of their church and community.
• Organising worship and bible study groups with facilities to enable those who are deaf or hard of hearing to take a full and active part by providing BSL interpreters, lip speaking, screen projections and hearing loops.
• Providing pastoral support to those who are deaf or hard of hearing through visits, organising social events and keeping in touch via regular mailings.
• Providing grants to churches and individuals for providing interpreters, installing loop systems, BSL and deaf communication training or meeting the cost of transport.
• Supporting social and worship activities for the young deaf.
• Providing advice on ways churches can better serve those in their congregations who are deaf or hard or hearing.

The work of ODCD is overseen by Trustees who meet three times a year to support the work of our team of part-time Chaplains and Licenced Lay Ministers.