Case Studies: Major Grants
Deafness Research UK: £49,000 followed by £82,700 over 2 years
Deafness Research UK is the UK's only national charity dedicated to helping deaf and hard of hearing people through medical research and education. Their aim is to secure radical improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment.
In 2008, they received a grant of £82,700 over 2 years to fund research under Dr David Furness at Keele University into the replacement of defective cells in the inner ear to prevent age related hearing loss. Following on from the project's first year pilot (for which they received a £49,000 grant), the research aims to determine whether by replacing defective cells with good ones it is possible to prevent the progression to hair cell loss and prebycuasis (age-related hearing loss). In the first few weeks of the research it was discovered that fibrocytes appear to begin degenerating at around 2-3 weeks prior to the damage caused to inner ear hair cells, which can be seen by around 4-5 weeks.
Visit the Deafness Research UK website (external link)
The Elizabeth Foundation: £30,000
The Elizabeth Foundation is a national charity that supports infants and pre-school aged children with hearing loss and their families, by providing help, support, education and encouragement. They believe that it is the right of every deaf child to be given the opportunity to learn to listen and talk, and to lead a socially inclusive life. In 2008 they received a grant of £30,000 to develop and promote the Family Centre in Hampshire and specifically their Home Learning and Demonstration Home Programme. This programme for families of newly diagnosed children, offers practical support to parents, on how to use normal everyday activities in the home to develop their child's listening awareness, and spoken language skills.
Visit The Elizabeth Foundation website (external link)
The Outward Bound Trust: £40,000
The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity dedicated to developing young people through adventure in the outdoors. For over 65 years they have been inspiring thousands of young people to unlock their potential, raise their self-esteeem and face their future confidently. In 2008, The Outward Bound Trust received a major grant of £40,000 which raised the aspirations of 155 young people through five day Outward Bound courses, and 16 young people through three week Outward Bound courses.
Visit The Outward Bound Trust website (external link)