CONTACT US

TRUSTEE CONTACT DETAILS

E mail us -   info@dorsetdcs.co.uk

or contact us by post -

Martin Ring, Chairman, 4 Gatcombe Close, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2AW.

Yvonne Hussain, Secretary, 80 Gresham Road, Winton, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH9 1QT.

Shirley Sorbie, Treasurer, Touchwood, 9 Oakland Walk, West Parley, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 8PF.

MEET THE DORSET DCS TRUSTEES

Dorset Deaf Children's Society has twelve trustees who work as volunteers and give up their spare time to run the charity and organise events. We thought it would be nice for all our members to know a little bit about us all and be able to put names to faces!

MARTIN RING

I am a 47 year old father of two, married to Julie. My 14 year old daughter Hannah is hearing and my 12 year old son Stuart is profoundly deaf with a cochlear implant. I work full time as a lorry driver and part time as a lifeguard. In my spare time I enjoy running and swimming. We also have two dogs and these get walked at least twice every day. I enter local running races every month as this gives me the incentive to keep up my running every week. The swimming I have to do every week for my lifeguard role. I became involved with the DDCS committee as I felt their good work deserved my support.

YVONNE HUSSAIN

I have been married to Kamal for 28 years we have two children Rebecca 21 and Jordan 12. Jordan was diagnosed as profoundly deaf when he was 7 months old and has had a Cochlear Implant since he was two. Our family received support from DDCS with equipment and signing lessons when Jordan started school at the age of 4 and we also attended DDCS events. I joined the DDCS committee as a trustee in 2005 and later became Secretary in 2008. I really enjoy working along side all the other trustees and Jordan has made some great friends through DDCS and I am happy to say I have too!

SHIRLEY SORBIE

I have three children Kelly, Tom and Jamie, both the boys and my husband, Charlie, are hearing impaired. I have been involved with the DDCS since 1992 when Tom was diagnosed at the age of 3. I joined the trustees in 1993 and in later years took on the roles of Treasurer and Membership Secretary. I also represent parents as a member of the Children’s Hearing Services Working Group. I work as an Administrator for four companies and in my spare time I am a bit of a football and cricket fan as both the boy’s play. I love being involved with the DDCS, meeting parents and children, and I hope in a small way I can contribute to helping families. You will quite often see me running around with my clipboard helping to organise some of the activities or with a silly hat on at the Christmas party!

PHILIPPA O'GRADY

I live in Sherborne with my husband and two sons. Edward 9 and Lewis 6. Edward was diagnosed with bi lateral severe/profound deafness at the age of 2 and a half. He has worn hearing aids since this time. We were introduced to the DDCS by our Teacher of the Deaf and have met many great people through the various events. Most importantly we have gained much needed information and emotional support. I became a trustee last year, as a way of giving something back to what I feel, is a much-needed social group for our children. I look forward to seeing you all soon and having a chat.

URSULA MURLEY

I have been a volunteer and trustee with Somerset and now Dorset DCS for 18 years…ever since the NDCS gave me a small grant towards my teacher of the deaf training fees! Deafness runs in my family and I have a young niece and nephew who are severely deaf. I’m delighted to be part of the DDCS team and have enjoyed our recent joint projects with the Hearing Support Service, notably our residential trip to Osmington Bay and the recent Parent Information Evening.

JOHN GILLIES

I was born in Scotland but travelled when I was 18 and lived in various places in England, Ireland and America. I came back from Ohio in 1997 and met my wife on the banks of Loch Lomond. I work as a nurse and co-ordinator in A&E at a Poole hospital, a role which I find both challenging and rewarding every single day I am at the hospital. We now have three AMAZING children Jamie, Katie-Jane and Nathan. All of our children have severe hearing loss and wear aids. I joined DDCS last year and I have never met a more dedicated or energetic group of people who are championing the causes and needs of the young people in Dorset and I know I needed to be part of this group and do everything I could to help.

SARAH BOLTER

I am married with two teenage children, live in West Moors and work as a full time music teacher/musician. I've been either coming to DDCS events or been on the committee since my daughter Laura was diagnosed as profoundly deaf when she was 11months old. She is now nearly 18yrs!!! I’ve always truly believed in what the DDCS stands for, and that is to have people you can contact for help and support and really understand what you are going through.

DEBBIE BARNETT

I live in Poole with my two children, Nicholas, 13, and Bethany, 10. Bethany was diagnosed at 4 years old with mild to moderate bilateral hearing loss. We joined the DDCS through recommendation from our then hearing support teacher for the deaf. We got so much from the DDCS that I decided to give something back and joined the committee. Bethany and I have made new friends, have been on some great outings and always have someone to talk to if support is needed. I am a Teaching Assistant at a first school as well as being the lead lunch supervisor and I teach Year 4 to cook. I have recently been diagnosed with moderate hearing loss and now wear hearing aids myself.

YVONNE COLEMAN

I am married to Ashley and have 3 children, Natalie, Jamie and Shona. Natalie was diagnosed at 18 months and had a cochlear implant when she was 2 1/2. We joined DDCS when Natalie was referred to Southampton for consideration of her implant, at the time we didn't know what to do or who to turn to for help. The help and support we received from other members of DDCS was invaluable and it was through meeting other parents that we were able to make our decision to precede with the implant for Natalie. I have recently joined the committee of the DDCS as I feel that I would like to give something back for all the help and support we received and of course the excellent days out!

JO RIDOUT

I live with my husband, Martin, and two children, Emily (8yrs) and Jack (6yrs), on our family dairy farm near Hooke. Our daughter was born profoundly deaf and communicated using sign language until she had her cochlear implant, when she was 3 years old. I work at Dorchester Middle School as a signing teaching assistant, supporting deaf children on a 1:1 basis in all aspects of their learning. It is a very rewarding job, which makes excellent use of both my signing and teaching qualifications. As a family we have benefited greatly from being members of DDCS and being a committee member gives me the opportunity to give something back.

JAMIE SORBIE

I'm 16 years old and studying A-Levels in Maths with Statistics, Geography, Chemistry and Media. I developed a severe hearing loss when I was seven years old. I have always come along to DDCS events because my older brother is deaf and my mum has been a trustee for many years. I became a trustee because I wanted to be more involved with DDCS and represent younger members on the committee. In my spare time I play cricket for Parley Cricket Club and I have been selected for the England Lions Deaf Cricket Squad, which can mean travelling around the country. I also play alto saxophone and hope to do my Grade 5 Jazz exam this year and I am also a Manchester United supporter!