A DEAF humanitarian aid worker has become the new boss of a Cheshire charity.

David Horrocks, who was born profoundly deaf and visually impaired, was appointed as CEO of DSN in October 2021 and plans to spread further awareness.

The charity, previously known as the Cheshire Deaf Society, was founded in 1976 and provides a wide range of support and services for those in Cheshire who are deaf, deafblind or have a visual impairment.

David started his involvement with DSN as a trustee for two years before being appointed as its CEO.

He said: "I was looking to use my skills and experience to help a local charity that I could have real empathy with, and I became a trustee of DSN in July 2019.”

David, whilst coping with his disabilities, graduated from Liverpool John Moores University, became a voluntary services overseas volunteer in Thailand and then went on to complete his master’s degree at the University of Nottingham.

"Growing up as a child with sensory loss and now as an adult, I continue to face real challenges every single day of my life. Sadly, we are still being marginalised and excluded from society.”

David’s priority for DSN includes encouraging more young people with sensory loss to get involved in innovative projects for the charity.

He also aims to expand the already successful supported living department, which provides a stable and happy home environment for 24 residents who are Deaf or Deaf/blind and have complex care/support needs and behaviours.

“I have now been CEO for three months and I have learned a lot from DSN’s work.

“The team at DSN is exceptional in its professionalism, passion and drive to ensure all those living with a sensory loss, both young and old, gain the dignity and independence that everyone rightfully deserves.”

David has over 28 years overseas experience developing and directing humanitarian aid programmes in countries recovering from conflict.

He has led Christian Aid’s emergency response in Afghanistan after 9/11, worked in North Korea to help the country to cope with the effects of food insecurity, and managed programmes to clear landmines and unexploded bombs in Iraq, Laos, Lebanon and other countries with the Mines Advisory Group.

Before returning to the UK, David worked as a United Nations Development Programme’s mine action advisor to the Cambodian government.

In 2016, he came back and managed a maternal and new-born health programme at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

"My international aid experience has always focused upon working with communities at grass-root level, so I am honoured to lead an organisation that continues to deliver outstanding support and excellence to the sensory loss community.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2021 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, an actress who was born deaf, spread awareness of the deaf community whilst on the show and demonstrates a step in the right direction for more support and understanding for those who are deaf, deafblind, or visually impaired.

David said: “I just hope that the increased awareness and support for the D/deaf and sensory loss community shown over the last three months continues so that DSN and other organisations across the country can increase their essential support and services to them.”