Gloucestershire Deaf Association

What Gloucestershire Deaf Association does

Gloucestershire Deaf Association (GDA) is a registered UK charity (no. 1015937) and company limited by guarantee (no. 2692718), founded in 1919 by the Gloucester Diocesan and headquartered at a refurbished community centre on Colin Road, Barnwood, Gloucester. The charity is the only frontline provider of support services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafened people in the region, operating across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Swindon, and South Gloucestershire with a team of 11-50 staff. Its service portfolio is delivered by Deaf staff and BSL users and spans communication support and BSL interpreting, free NHS hearing aid maintenance clinics, ear health checks with microsuction wax removal, BSL courses from Level 1 through Level 6 delivered by BSL College, advocacy and wellbeing services, family support, and a layered set of social and youth programmes including the Dalmatians Club (0-8), NXT GEN (9-16), Gloucester Deaf Club, Lunch Club, and Hard of Hearing Clubs. The charity also retails specialist listening-aid equipment (telephones, alarms, alerters) through its online shop.

GDA monetises through a hybrid non-profit model combining fee-for-service (BSL tuition, ear health checks at £30, wax removal at £40, room hire of an accessible hearing-loop-equipped community centre), equipment retail, and donations, fundraising, grants, legacies, lottery/scheme income, and corporate partnerships. Customer segments range from individual beneficiaries (deaf BSL users, hard of hearing individuals, deafened people, families of deaf children) to institutional buyers (NHS, schools, healthcare staff, public sector workers, corporates) purchasing BSL and deaf awareness training. Distribution is community-led and multi-channel: a physical community centre hub, regional outreach clinics, phone/text/email, online booking via Tickettailor, an e-commerce storefront, and referral networks via NHS, GPs, schools, and local authorities.

Recent strategic activity includes a 2023 partnership with fellow deaf-led charity Action Deafness to share expertise and resources, the April 2024 launch of the NXT GEN youth service funded by Pied Piper, operationalisation of the Ear Health Check service, a £10,000 Summerfield Trust grant in 2024 for adult wellbeing activities, and ongoing senior leadership renewal (new Heads of Finance, Fundraising, Growth and Partnerships, plus an interim CEO following the mid-2023 departure of the previous CEO).

Name

Gloucestershire Deaf Association

Legal name

Gloucestershire Deaf Association

Website

https://gda.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gloucestershire Deaf Association is a UK-registered charity, founded in 1919, delivering frontline support services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafened people across Gloucestershire and adjacent counties. It combines hearing aid clinics, BSL courses, ear health services, advocacy, youth programmes, and community activities from a dedicated accessible centre in Gloucester.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM), Hearing Impairment & Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Inclusive Childcare (HSAAAIAJ)

Keywords

• Deaf support services
• British Sign Language courses
• Hearing aid maintenance
• Deaf awareness training
• Deaf community support

Headquarters

HQ city

Gloucester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: GDA relies heavily on public donations, fundraising events, and charitable giving to fund its services. The organisation runs various fundraising campaigns including the 'Count Me In' campaign and encourages one-off and recurring donations.
2. Community Events and Activities: Revenue generated from social events, quiz nights, race nights, and other community activities. Money raised goes directly back into funding the charity's services.
3. BSL Courses and Training: GDA offers accredited British Sign Language courses from Level 1 through Level 6, taught by experienced Deaf tutors. These courses generate revenue while building skills in the community.
4. Ear Health Services: Fee-based ear health checks (£30) and wax removal services (£40) using microsuction technique performed by trained professionals.
5. Room Hire: GDA's refurbished Community Centre offers rooms for hire including a Main Hall (capacity 60), Honeyford Room (capacity 20), and Ruby Room, with full accessibility features and hearing loops.
6. Equipment Sales: GDA sells listening aid equipment including telephones, alarms, alerters and related products through its online shop (gdashop.org.uk).
7. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: GDA offers corporate sponsorship opportunities for events, Charity of the Year partnerships, matched funding programmes, and team building days with businesses.
8. Legacies and Bequests: GDA encourages supporters to leave gifts in their Wills, receiving percentage or fixed sum bequests from estates.
9. Lottery and Shopping Schemes: GDA benefits from EasyFundraising (partnering with 2,000+ retailers) and the Gloucester Lottery (£1 per week tickets), receiving donations from shopping and gambling activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Gloucestershire Deaf Association is a registered charity providing support, advice, and services to deaf, hard of hearing, and deafened people. Its core offerings include British Sign Language (BSL) training courses, ear health services, hearing aid maintenance clinics, advocacy, social and community activities, and the supply of specialist equipment for people with hearing loss.

Product overview

GDA operates as a single-brand charitable services organisation offering a coordinated portfolio of services for deaf, hard of hearing and deafened people in Gloucestershire. The core services include Communication Support (BSL interpreting), Ear Health Check (with wax removal via microsuction), Hearing Aid Maintenance (free NHS clinics), and BSL College (accredited courses Levels 1-6). These are complemented by Wellbeing and Advocacy support services. Youth and family services comprise Family Support, The Dalmatians Club (ages 0-8), and NXT GEN (ages 9-16). Social activities include Gloucester Deaf Club (BSL users), Lunch Club (50+), and Hard of Hearing Clubs. Additional offerings include Tinnitus Support, Transport Fund, Room Hire (accessible community centre with hearing loops), and Deaf Awareness Training. The organisation also sells specialist listening aid equipment through its shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BSL College: BSL courses from Level 1 through Level 6 taught by experienced, Deaf tutors
• NXT GEN
• The Dalmatians Club
• Gloucester Deaf Club (GDC)
• Lunch Club
• Ear Health Check

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of deaf, hard of hearing and deafened people supported annually across Gloucestershire
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Action DeafnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGDA announced a partnership with Action Deafness, a fellow deaf-led charity. This collaboration marks an important step in strengthening GDA's long-term sustainability and extending the reach of specialist services. Through this integration, both organisations will share expertise, resources and best practice to enhance the quality, consistency and impact of services for Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people across Gloucestershire. GDA will continue to deliver services from its current base with day-to-day operations continuing as planned.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID): The largest UK charity for people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or experience tinnitus, providing a national suite of services, research, and digital resources. Overlaps significantly with GDA's mission but operates at national scale with broader resources.
• British Deaf Association (BDA): UK national deaf-led membership organisation representing the deaf community, providing advocacy, Deaf culture, and BSL-related services. Comparable in deaf-led approach but operates at national policy and advocacy level rather than local frontline service delivery.
• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People: UK national charity training hearing dogs to assist deaf people with daily sounds and alerting. Operates in the same deaf-community space as GDA but focuses on hearing dog assistance rather than communication support and education.
• SignHealth: UK national deaf health charity providing specialist health services including psychological therapy, advocacy, and hospital communication support for deaf people. Comparable in specialist service delivery but focused specifically on healthcare access.
• National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS): UK national charity for deaf children and young people, offering family support, BSL resources, and youth programmes. Overlaps with GDA's Dalmatians Club and NXT GEN youth services but at national scale with broader programme reach.
• Sense (for deafblind people): UK national charity supporting people who are deafblind or have sensory impairments, providing services, housing, and advocacy. Overlaps with GDA's service to Deafblind people (mentioned in the Action Deafness partnership) but with a broader disability focus.

Direct peers

• Deaf Direct: Regional deaf-led charity serving Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and surrounding areas with BSL services, advocacy, and community support. Closely comparable regional operating model; GDA Trustee William Stavert was previously chairperson of Deaf Direct for 11 years.
• Action Deafness: Fellow deaf-led charity offering communication support, advocacy, and specialist services for Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing people. Announced a strategic partnership with GDA in 2023 to share expertise and resources, making it the most directly comparable peer.

Emerging players

• UK Deaf Sport: UK national organisation promoting deaf sport across the UK. Some overlap with GDA's sports-themed days for NXT GEN youth activities, but primarily a sports umbrella body rather than a service charity.

Regional players

• Cochlear UK: UK arm of Cochlear Limited, providing cochlear implant technology, aftercare, and rehabilitation services. Adjacent to GDA's hearing aid maintenance and ear health services but operates as a commercial medical device company with product focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/glosdeaf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/GDAGlosDeaf
• Facebookfacebook.com/GDAGlos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gloucestershire-deaf-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/gdadeaf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gloucestershire Deaf Association