Give the gift of 3 hours this Christmas to Exeter Deaf Academy

Christmas is the time for giving so pupils from Exeter Deaf Academy have dressed up as ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ to ask their local community to give the gift of volunteering this festive season.

In the run up to Christmas, Exeter Deaf Academy need volunteers to give just 3 hours to help sell car raffle tickets in Princesshay Exeter on weekdays, weekends or on a Thursday Late Night Shopping evening.

Raffle tickets are sold by volunteers from the Exeter Deaf Academy stand in Princesshay up until Christmas Eve. So far, volunteers have sold over 4,000 raffle tickets, but with the extra help of Christmas volunteers the charity hopes to double this over the busy festive season.

100% of the proceeds from the car raffle will support Deaf students to reach their full potential. Money raised will go towards purchasing essential items such as specialist sensory and audiology equipment, or funding support services for families, helping to transform the lives of Deaf children and young people.

This year Exeter Deaf Academy is Princesshay’s ‘2016 Charity of the Year’. Mercedes-Benz South West have generously donated the £22,000 A-Class car as a raffle prize to raise thousands of pounds for the charity. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn in Princesshay at 12 noon on Christmas Eve.

Volunteer, Catrina Marsh, said, “I always enjoy volunteering for Exeter Deaf Academy and helping out at this magical time of year. I meet so many interesting and friendly people and I enjoy telling them about how Exeter Deaf Academy helps to change the lives of Deaf children. Giving up just three hours of time may seem small, but those three hours do make a huge difference.”

As an extra incentive to volunteer, Mercedes-Benz South West have donated a ‘Mercedes for the Weekend’ for a volunteer’s prize draw. The winning volunteer will be picked from the hat on Christmas Eve.

Princesshay Exeter have also donated £20 gift cards as a thank you to volunteers. Every time a person volunteers, they will be entered into a draw. The more you volunteer, the more chances you have to win.

No previous experience is needed to be a Christmas volunteer, just lots of festive cheer and confidence talking to the public. Full information and support will be provided. Volunteers must be 16 years and over or accompanied by an adult.

To sign up visit: exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk/volunteer.
Or email fundraising@exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk or call 01392 267019.

Exeter Deaf Academy is one of the city’s oldest charities and runs a specialist school and college in a bilingual English and British Sign Language (BSL) environment for Deaf young people aged 4-24. The Deaf Academy’s English and BSL bilingual community gives Deaf young people a sense of belonging as they learn and develop their own language skills and journey towards independence and fulfilling their own potential.