A new club has been set up in the borough to help deaf people build their confidence and learn skills thanks to funding.

The Deafroots Association Club is based at Stratford Library where it meets every Monday evening. It has been made possible with funding from Newham Council’s community grants scheme and was officially opened by Cllr Terence Paul.

Angela Joseph, employment project co-ordinator with Deafroots Association, the community charity behind the club, said: “The aim of this project is to give the deaf community an opportunity to interact within the community, to build their confidence, talk to other successful deaf people who have secured employment and to have the opportunity to learn new and exciting things.

“Our special thanks goes to Councillor Terence Paul in the opening of the Deaf Club. I would really like to take this opportunity to thank Community Grants, from Newham council who gave Deafroots this funding.

“I am really excited by this new project. I would also like thank the Stratford Library team and in particular, Trevor Mbatha, Sandra Conolan and Laura Beswick for the allocated space in the Library for our Deaf Club.”