MDC Trustees

Claire Cummings

C​hair

Alistair Wright

Dr Sarah Powell

Dr Sarah Powell has a long history working and volunteering in different organisations involved in mental health and deafness in the last 20 years.

Due to this experience and being Deaf herself, she is acutely aware of the barriers that Deaf people face daily in society and the challenges within mental health services that Deaf people face.She is passionate about ensuring that psychological therapies are delivered in an accessible way for all deaf people.

She had gained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2011 and remains very proud of this achievement. She works as a Clinical Lead for a national Deaf charity focusing on mental health.

In her own time she enjoys nature, theme parks and short walks.

Brian Kokoruwe

Policies and Procedures

Pauline Roberts

Lead on Media and Website Maintenance

S​helly Lanchbury

H​R Lead

Shelley was elected as a Councillor in Manchester in 2012 and represents the Higher Blackley Ward, in North Manchester. She has been involved in the Deaf Community and Deaf Organisations for many years - working for the Deaf Studies Trust in Bristol as well as serving as their Chair of Trustees, as Chair of Bristol Deaf Centre and working with Hearing Parents of Deaf Children. Whilst Shelley is hearing she has some BSL which she says is ‘a bit rusty I should use it more’ Shelley joined the Deaf Centre as a Trustee since 2015. She is also a School Governor and a Trustee of Lifeshare (a charity for Homeless young people). Shelley plays the clarinet in the Crumpsall Concert Band.

Christos Argyropoulos

I am a chartered accountant with significant experience both in practice and industry, and I currently work as a financial accounting manager for a large facilities services group. I am a hearing person and was introduced to the deaf community through my current role as Treasurer of the MDC. On a personal development basis, I am hoping to attend BSL courses at the MDC in the future and improve my awareness of the deaf community and its needs.

Bryony Parkes

Bryony was born deaf and attended a deaf grammar school going on to eventually undertake a Masters degree in Youth Work and Community Development. She has worked in the deaf charity sector for nearly fifteen years managing services for deaf young people with a special interest in youth development and involving young people in decision making. Bryony is currently the strategic lead for children and young people's services at a national deaf charity and is a Designated Safeguarding Officer. Outside of work life, she enjoys parkrun, swimming and volunteers at her local junior parkrun events.

Christopher Coles

Hello, I am Christopher Coles. I use both spoken English and British sign Language.

I am a team leader for Sign Assist which provides a pioneering new service: a helpline for Deaf and hearing-impaired people, staffed by Deaf and hearing-impaired advisors using British Sign Language. Part of my role is making sure what diversity and inclusion means to Connect Assist, and that the business recognises that the deaf community have been painfully under-served. This work developed my understanding of my role with HR, leading to me delivering development courses for the team. I am also now doing a foundation degree in business management, which gives me a better understanding how to support businesses and charities.

I wanted to become Trustee of MDC because I believe there is so much potential and a great future for the centre in developing what is needed for the community. I hope to share my skills with others across the community.