Andrew Pakes MP highlights Cambridgeshire Deaf Association in Peterborough Telegraph column

Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes has used his latest Westminster Life column in the Peterborough Telegraph to write about deafness, and why it should not stay an invisible issue in public life. In it, he mentions the work of Cambridgeshire Deaf Association and our Chief Executive, Andrew Palmer.

The column was published on Saturday 17 October 2026.

Speaking from experience

Mr Pakes writes openly about his own hearing. He has always had poor hearing, and it got significantly worse before the COVID pandemic. He now wears hearing aids and says they have made a huge difference, although noisy places such as busy restaurants, community events and the corridors of Parliament can still make conversations hard to follow.

He also encourages people not to put off getting help, and points to small changes that make a difference: speaking clearly, facing the person you are talking to and designing public services with accessibility in mind.

DeafBlind UK and CDA

The column highlights two charities supporting people in Peterborough. Mr Pakes describes DeafBlind UK, based in Paston, as one of the country’s leading charities supporting people with combined sight loss and deafness, and mentions that he is hosting the DeafBlind UK Summit in Parliament.

He also writes about Cambridgeshire Deaf Association, and how our advice, advocacy and practical support help deaf and Hard of Hearing people with everyday challenges and with getting the services they need.

Andrew Palmer, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Deaf Association, said:

“Andrew has taken an interest in Cambridgeshire Deaf Association since before he was an MP, and has worked with us many times to promote campaigns. He has also supported national campaigns focusing on British Sign Language and the deaf community.

He’s an ally of the local British Sign Language community and, as he says in his article, has hearing loss as well, so he understands the day-to-day challenges people who are Hard of Hearing face. We’re going to be doing much more work to elevate the voices of people who are Hard of Hearing, and we look forward to Andrew’s ongoing support.”