Charity music auction featuring signed memorabilia from famous names to raise vital funds for the Deaf Academy

Devon’s Deaf Academy is holding a charity auction this November, with members of the public able to bid on some unique musical lots in order to raise funds for the Academy’s move to Exmouth next year.

The online auction has been organised by Rachel Goswell, guitarist and vocalist from 90s shoegaze band Slowdive, whose 9-year-old son Jesse attends the Academy.

Items up for auction include signed guitars from Slowdive and Mogwai, along with screen prints, posters, drum heads, set lists and assorted memorabilia from the likes of The Cure, Ash, Editors, The Cult, Cocteau Twins, Alcest, American Football, Keane, Low, My Bloody Valentine, and a host of other names from across the music industry – even a signed Chas n’ Dave poster.

Rachel called on her musician friends to donate items in order to support the Academy, which not only provides Jesse with specialist Deaf education, but also supports his additional needs due to his diagnosis of CHARGE syndrome. The response from bands and musicians on both sides of the pond has been remarkable, with over 60 items given up for auction.

Rachel says the new Academy will bring huge benefits for her son. ‘The fact that the Academy teaches British Sign Language has been so important for Jesse, giving him language and the ability to communicate. His experience has been great there and we have seen him improve all the time.

‘He has a long list of needs, but the new site will be able to meet these, with specifically designed therapy rooms and a multi-sensory room which will be fantastic. There are so many aspects to the design of the new Academy, it feels like they have thought of everything they can to meet the varying needs of all their students.  It’s a really exciting development.’

The Deaf Academy provides school and college education to residential and day students from across the UK, and learners are taught by specialist teachers and support staff, in both British Sign Language and English. The purpose-built new Academy, which opens on the old Rolle College site in April 2020, will provide a dynamic and innovative environment in which Deaf young people can flourish.

The auction goes live on Thursday 14 November, and anyone interested is encouraged to visit the Deaf Academy Appeal website beforehand to explore the list of items that will be available: newdeafacademy.org.uk/auction