Family fun day for Exeter Deaf Academy

On Sunday 3 July, the gates of Exeter’s historic Mount Radford Lawn will be thrown open to the public for a traditional summer fete to raise funds for Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education.

Fete organisers, Crikey Nostalgia Events are promising a true family-friendly English country fete in the heart of the city, where visitors can immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of a traditional Great British day out.

The grassy festival is a perfect opportunity to bring the local community and Exeter Deaf Academy together to celebrate the charity’s 190th anniversary year. Exeter Deaf Academy, based opposite the Mount Radford Lawn on Topsham Road, is the only specialist residential Deaf education provider in the South West with a proud history in the city of supporting students who join them from throughout the UK.

The charity also supports Deaf students learning in mainstream education by providing an outreach service. However, the Academy is not funded in the same way as state schools and relies on fundraising to support projects that otherwise would not happen.

Proceeds raised from the event help to fund essential projects such as Family Support and counselling services, the development of a social enterprise called ‘Grow Make Sell’ that provides work experience opportunities for the students, as well as the charity’s exciting plans to build a brand new Deaf Academy in the city.
At the centre of the fete will be a large marquee filled with more than 50 stalls selling artisan crafts, local produce and a range of vintage home-wares.

Out on the field, visitors can wander among the bunting to admire a display of classic cars, and stalls offering good old fashioned fete games, a tombola with prizes donated from local businesses, face painting, British Sign Language storytelling, woodland crafts and plenty of food and drink on sale.

There will also be music, a best cake competition, craft demonstrations, bubble workshops and baby massage.

Shelley Barns from Crikey Nostalgia Events said, “Our Strawberries and Cream Fete in the Field will have something for all the family. We promise a brilliant atmosphere with a real sense of nostalgia. Even if it the weather lets us down on the day, in true British style the show will go on!”

Exeter Deaf Academy Fundraiser, Holly Truhol said, “Fete in the Field is such a wonderful chance to bring the wider hearing community and Deaf community together. The Deaf Academy will be proudly showcasing some of the amazing talents our Deaf young people and staff have! Students will be selling their beautiful handmade crafts from their social enterprise, “Grow, Make, Sell” and BSL Storytelling from one of our Deaf Instructors, Nikki James. We look forward to the day and hope it will be become an annual occasion for everyone to enjoy – whilst raising valuable funds to support the young people at Exeter Deaf Academy”

Tickets: Adults £2, children £1 (under 5s free entry), family ticket (2 adults 2 children) £5. There is no parking at the event. Tickets are available on the door. Visit exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk/feteinthefield.