On Thursday, 14th March, Deputy Lieutenant Philip Bostock OBE DL officially opened The Deaf Academy’s new ‘Fearnside House’, a learning centre for young Deaf adults.
Fearnside House was a former convent, which has been converted by The Deaf Academy to provide a high quality facility for its older students to learn and live. The charity purchased the former convent to meet the demand of an increasing number of students following its move from Exeter to Exmouth in 2020. It now provides a 10-bed residential and learning space for Deaf students aged between 19 and 25.
Sylvan Dewing, Principal of the Deaf Academy, said…
“It was wonderful to celebrate the opening of Fearnside House. We are absolutely delighted with the finished building. Our students deserve high quality care and to live and thrive in an environment where they can receive all the support they need to prepare them for their next steps into independent living and employment.”
The Academy has developed a new post 19 curriculum that helps students to develop their skills, whilst having a strong focus on preparing for employment and for adulthood, which will be followed by students based at the centre.