CDA for Life: our strategy for the years ahead
A vision for a Cambridgeshire where deaf people live healthy, happy, fulfilling lives — free from barriers, and always supported.
Co-produced with our members, staff, volunteers and partners
“We envision a world where deaf people can prosper without barriers.”
The last five years have been a tremendous success — we’ve grown in size and reach, and strengthened our finances. This strategy sets our course for the next chapter, shaped by the voices of everyone we serve.
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The world we live in is one that is ever-evolving — it’s one in which inclusivity and accessibility for all should be paramount, but isn’t. As a regional charity, we can’t change the world, but we can and do certainly make a difference here in Cambridgeshire.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce the 2025–2029 Cambridgeshire Deaf Association Strategy. It sets out our focus as an organisation as we continue to grow, encountering new challenges and ensuring that Cambridgeshire remains the best county in the country for those with deafness to live, now and in the decades to come.
The strategy has been co-produced with CDA members, my colleagues on the Board of Trustees, CDA staff, our volunteers, those that use our services, and partner organisations. It reflects the voices and perspectives of everyone we serve and support, while ensuring the organisation can continue to grow in health, impact and sustainability.
Together we go further than we ever could alone. We look forward to your continued support as we move forward, and can’t wait to see you at our events or accessing our services.
Fil KampsChairman, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association
What we want the future to look like
We want improved health, wellbeing and equality for deaf people.
Health
Better physical and hearing health outcomes for our community.
Wellbeing
Happy, fulfilling lives as part of a vibrant, supportive community.
Equality
Fair access to the support and services everyone deserves.
Our role in making that vision a reality
Five commitments guide everything we do.
Developing a strong community for people with deafness or hearing loss at all stages of life
Helping people to access top class information
Guided by our vision, mission and values in everything we deliver
Focusing on developing people to have the skills to be successful
Building on our strong foundations and increasing our stability
Nurturing external relationships to help people thrive
What guides us, every day
Take Notice
We’ll pay attention to what happens around us.
Be Active
We’ll get things done.
Learn
We’ll seek better ways to do things.
Give
We will encourage volunteering and community resilience.
Connect
We will support other organisations and groups to work with deaf people.
Reflecting on our journey since 2019
Five years of remarkable growth — built on our merger with Cambridgeshire Hearing Help and a shared commitment to the whole deaf and hearing-loss community.
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One of the most significant developments since our last strategy was our merger with Cambridgeshire Hearing Help, expanding our support for those with age-related hearing loss and allowing us to present a unified, coherent voice for anyone in Cambridgeshire affected by hearing loss or deafness.
We now have over 100 volunteers, around 100 members, and a staff team of approximately 40 — a truly remarkable community of around 240 people. Our social media audience has grown to over 10,000 followers on Facebook, with thousands more on Instagram and Twitter, and our video content has garnered millions of views.
We’re a trusted organisation, having secured repeat local authority contracts for advocacy and casework, and we’ve built strong partnerships with the police — becoming one of the few providers of domestic abuse services for the deaf community in the UK. In 2025, our care services achieved an “Outstanding” CQC rating for the second time (following our first in 2021).
We also recognise the gaps: access to healthcare remains a challenge, and our previous strategy didn’t fully address the needs of people who’ve lost their hearing due to age, working-age people who don’t use BSL, or younger people. These are the areas this new strategy is determined to address.
Adapting to what our community needs next
Our focus is shaped by what the community has told us. We’re committed to reaching people who don’t yet see CDA as “for them” — including non-BSL users, those with age-related hearing loss, and young people — while building a more sustainable organisation for the future.
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We must continue to be a reliable, strong presence for the current deaf community — one we’re incredibly proud to support. But we also recognise a growing need to reach those who’ve lost their hearing later in life, many of whom don’t currently engage with CDA because they perceive us as serving BSL users only. Broadening that appeal is a key commitment.
Consultations with our community made clear we need to do more for young people — their experiences have directly shaped this strategy. Sustainability is another key concern: our historic Cambridge building is less frequently used as activity increasingly moves to Huntingdon, Peterborough and alternative venues, and we must ensure our structures — financial, physical and in our people — are fit for purpose for years to come.
In essence, this strategy is about adapting to the changing needs of our community, ensuring our organisation’s sustainability, and continuing to build a supportive, inclusive environment for everyone we serve.
100th Anniversary
During this strategy period, CDA celebrates a momentous milestone: 100 years of service, tracing back to the founding of the Cambridge Deaf Club.
Built with our community, not just for it
A comprehensive, inclusive process to make sure this strategy reflects the real needs and aspirations of the people we serve.
Workshops
In-person workshops with the deaf community across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough gathered invaluable feedback.
Accessible surveys
Online surveys — including BSL versions — reached a broader audience and partner service providers.
Trustee analysis
In February 2024, our Board of Trustees analysed the findings to define the strategic themes ahead.
Supporting people at every stage of life
A holistic approach across five themes — plus the stability to deliver on all of them, for everyone in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough experiencing hearing loss or deafness.
Preparing
+Key ideasHide
- Education: ensuring access to appropriate education
- Parenting support: helping parents understand and support their children’s needs
- Skills development: building essential life skills
- Community building: social networks, community ties and role models
- Social skills: preparing individuals for adulthood
Adjusting
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- Transition support: adjusting to hearing aids or communicating with family
- Workplace adjustment: adapting to hearing loss at work
- Age-related hearing loss: tailored support for older adults
- Technology: leading adoption of the right tech solutions
Stability
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- Financial stability
- Resources well spent and assets carefully managed
- A performance-led environment
- A positive culture — the right people, the right skills, the right roles
Developing
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- Skill development: advocacy and casework that builds independence
- Community resilience: strengthening ties that support wellbeing
- Domestic abuse awareness: education that enhances personal safety
- Befriending services: maintaining or restoring independence
- Knowledge in BSL: filling gaps in accessible information
Thriving
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- Community events: organising activity that boosts social wellbeing
- Career support: helping people achieve growth and promotion
- Care excellence: high quality care services that help people thrive
- Personal fulfilment: encouraging people to be their best in every area of life, including sport and activity
Together, we go further than we ever could alone.
This is CDA for life — a strategy built with our community, for our community. We can’t wait for you to be part of the next chapter.
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