Could you be the next Chair of Cambridgeshire Deaf Association?
We are looking for a new Chair to lead our Board as we head towards 100 years of supporting deaf and hard of hearing people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Seven and a half years on our Board
Fil Kamps will step down as our Chair in December because of work commitments, after seven and a half years as a trustee.
Fil has led the Board through some of the biggest changes in our history. During his time as a trustee, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association merged with Cambridgeshire Hearing Help, nearly tripled its annual turnover to £1.5m and was rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission twice, in 2021 and 2025. He also led the Board as we built CDA for Life, our strategy for 2025 to 2029, together with our members, staff, volunteers and partners.
“It’s an incredible organisation and charity. It has a massive impact on the deaf and hard of hearing community here in Cambridgeshire.”Fil Kamps, Chair of Cambridgeshire Deaf Association
Thank you, Fil, for everything you have given to CDA and to the deaf community.
Watch Fil’s message (captioned)
Read the transcript
Hello, my name is Fil Kamps. At the moment, I’m the chair of the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association, which I’ve loved doing over the last three or four years. I’ve been a trustee now on the board for seven and a half years, but I sadly will be stepping down from my role as chair in December due to work commitments, which is an exciting time because it means here at the charity we’re looking to recruit a new chair to help lead the organisation forward into the future.
It’s an incredible organisation and charity, has a massive impact on the deaf and hard of hearing community here in Cambridgeshire as a county. A lot of staff and volunteers, people that are invested in making sure that deaf people and those with hearing loss can succeed and live very fulfilling lives.
So if you’re interested in applying to become the next chair of the organisation or interested in the conversation about what that could look like, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you. Someone that’s got a link to the deaf community, certainly within Cambridgeshire or the hard of hearing community, has a passion for helping others, and it’d be really, really interesting to see you apply. So please let us know. Thank you.
Why become our Chair?
Being Chair of Cambridgeshire Deaf Association is a chance to make a real difference to deaf and hard of hearing people across the county.
Represent the community
Be the public face of a charity that has been at the heart of the deaf community in Cambridgeshire for nearly 100 years.
Hold the team to account
Lead the Board in supporting and challenging our Chief Executive and staff team, so the charity is well run, safe and financially strong.
Keep us on course
Make sure we deliver CDA for Life, our 2025 to 2029 strategy, and its aim of better health, wellbeing and equality for deaf people.
Be a voice for deaf people
Speak up for deaf and hard of hearing people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with partners, funders and decision makers.
Promote the community
Champion the deaf community and help more people, including those with age-related hearing loss and young people, see CDA as somewhere for them.
Work with a strong Board
Chair a committed Board of trustees and help each of them bring their skills and experience to the table.
The community chooses who leads CDA
Cambridgeshire Deaf Association is a membership charity. The people we serve have a real say in how we are run, and that is what makes being our Chair different.
You do not need to be a member to apply to be our Chair. Anyone can become a trustee.
From first chat to Chair
Have a conversation
Get in touch with Andrew Palmer, our Chief Executive, for an informal chat about the role. You can ask him anything.
Meet the Board
Shortlisted candidates have a short interview, then meet the Board.
Join as a trustee
The Board co-opts you as a trustee, so you can start straight away and get to know CDA.
Become Chair
Once you are a trustee, the Board chooses you as its Chair.
Why co-opted first? Co-option means you can join the Board now, rather than waiting for our next Annual General Meeting, and settle in before you take on the Chair role. We carry out the usual checks for every trustee, including references, a fit and proper declaration and any safeguarding checks needed.
Is this you?
- You have a link to the deaf or hard of hearing community, ideally here in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough.
- You have a passion for helping others.
- You are confident bringing people together and leading a meeting.
- You want to see deaf people live healthy, happy and fulfilling lives, free from barriers.
You do not need to be a member of CDA, and you do not need to be deaf or a BSL user, although lived experience is really valued. We aim for half of our Board to be sign language users, so we especially welcome applications from BSL users.
Can I apply in BSL?
I have never been a trustee. Can I still apply?
How much time does it take?
Do I need to be a member of CDA?
Where can I find out more about CDA?
Interested? We would love to hear from you
For an informal chat about the role, or to apply, email our Chief Executive, Andrew Palmer, at andrew@cambsdeaf.org with “Chair application” and your name in the subject line.
To apply, send your CV and a one-page statement, or a short BSL video, about why you would like to be our Chair and what you would bring.
There is no closing date. We will keep looking until we find the right person, so get in touch whenever you are ready.
Andrew Palmer
Chief Executive
Email: andrew@cambsdeaf.org
Cambridgeshire Deaf Association
8 Romsey Terrace
Cambridge
CB1 3NH
Phone: 01223 246237
Email: office@cambsdeaf.org
Not for you? Please share this page with anyone you think would make a great Chair.
