An award of £170,000-plus from the Big Lottery Fund will guarantee the immediate future of the Jewish Deaf Association’s programme for its older members.

The Barnet-based charity offers a weekly day centre, computer lessons, social activities and personalised support for the 70s-90s. The money will help fund the salary of three key staff members over the next three years.

JDA executive director Sue Cipin said “the funding is confirmation that the work we are doing is beneficial. But in order to continue and expand this very important work, we need to secure our financial future further.”

She added that many elderly clients “have nowhere and no one else to turn to. We talk their language, rather than forcing them to conform to a system from which they are largely excluded.”