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UK Deaf Sport welcomes new Head of Participation

UK Deaf Sport is pleased to announce the appointment of Valerie Copenhagen as Head of Participation. This new role is focused on leading and delivering a national strategy to grow participation of deaf and hard hearing people in sport and physical activity.

Valerie Copenhagen playing tennis for Great Britain

Valerie (pictured above playing tennis) has over ten years of experience in leading on development, implementation and management of programmes within the Voluntary (Third) sector. In her most recent role at leading charity, National Deaf Children's Society, Valerie was responsible for the management of a successful UK wide family event and activities programme, part of which was funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Valerie's other experience includes impact monitoring and evaluation, particularly measuring the social impact of services, and creating and launching new initiatives. In previous job roles, Valerie has developed extensive experience with working with partners at all levels. These skills and experience will no doubt be beneficial to her in this new role at UK Deaf Sport.

Piers Martin, Executive Chair of UK Deaf Sport, said:

"We are very pleased to have appointed Valerie to the critical role. Her experience of increasing participation within the deaf community along with her fresh ideas for the future will be invaluable to UK Deaf Sport going forward."

Valerie has both personal and professional experience of working with people who are deaf and hard of hearing. A keen sportswoman, Valerie represented Great Britain at the inaugural World Deaf Tennis Championships which took place in Nottingham, July 2015.

Valerie starts her new role at UK Deaf Sport in late November.

UK Deaf Sport is the National Governing Body for deaf sport in the UK, their vision is 'every deaf person active and inspired by sport'. The organisation encourages people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate, enjoy and excel at sport.

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