Our Team
We take great pride in our dedicated team of trustees and staff who work tirelessly to support our deaf community. Our team is composed of passionate individuals, each bringing their unique skills and expertise to ensure we deliver the best services possible.
Board of Trustees
Our trustees are all deaf or hard of hearing. They bring valuable lived experience, from personal experience of deafness to supporting deaf children and breaking communication barriers. Their skills span social work, community engagement, marketing, event planning, and leadership, enabling us to effectively meet the diverse needs of our community.
Founder & Chair of Trustees
Catherine has been involved with Deaf Access Bedford for 17 years and is passionate about ensuring Deaf people in Bedford have access to support, social opportunities and a strong sense of community. She is proud to have helped the charity grow and develop its own Deaf Space.
Catherine has also worked with Action Deafness for six years, supporting Deaf clients. She is committed to reducing isolation, improving access and ensuring Deaf people and their families feel supported and connected within the community.
Trustee
Claire is profoundly Deaf and has over 30 years of social care experience, including roles as a Deputy Manager in Children’s Services. After stepping down due to work commitments, she returned as a DAB trustee in 2022 following her retirement.
Claire is passionate about reopening a local Deaf club, broadening basic BSL and Deaf awareness training, and ensuring better everyday communication access through in-person interpreters and Video Relay Services (VRS).
Trustee
Lissy is hard of hearing and has been involved with Deaf Access Bedford for several years before stepping into her trustee role. As the Programmer and Resources Manager at The Place Bedford, she brings valuable expertise in charity administration, arts programming, and education.
Lissy uses her background in community engagement to help DAB expand its activities, services, and inclusion efforts for local Deaf and hard of hearing people.
Our Staff
We currently have a team of four, paid, part time staff, who support and are supported by a team of freelancers and volunteers. If you're interested in volunteering for us, get in touch at info@accessbedford.org.uk.
Education and community officer
Tammy Thwaites
Tammy volunteered with Deaf Access Bedfordshire for over a year before joining the team in a paid role. Her background as a Communication Support Worker sparked her passion for supporting the Deaf community, and she is currently working toward her Level 3 BSL qualification.
Alongside assisting with DAB's day-to-day operations and growth, Tammy works to raise awareness of BSL so it is valued, understood, and taught more widely. She is leading on the educational opportunities that DAB has to offer.
Charity Manager
Krishna Gotham
Krishna is a former secondary school teacher and has been appointed as Charity Manager at Deaf Access Bedford. She has achieved Level 3 BSL and has a genuine love for BSL and Deaf culture, with a strong commitment to promoting access, inclusion and connection within the local community.
Having been involved with DAB events for many years, and encouraging her own children to learn BSL, Krishna brings valuable educational experience and enthusiasm. In her role as Charity Manager, she is dedicated to supporting the charity’s work, raising awareness of Deaf culture, and helping to build a more inclusive community from an early age.