Steve Simons

Fundraising & Communication Manager,
I​.T. Administrator

Born deaf into a hearing family, I somehow slipped through the net and was brought up apart from the Deaf community. I’ve contended with communication barriers (with all the associated frustration and isolation) whilst trying to fit into the hearing world, giving me lived experience with which to empathise with other Deaf people. 

My life has been radically transformed for the better recently, in no small part thanks to Manchester Deaf Centre and the amazing Deaf peers in my daily life now.

For most of my adult life I’ve been employed in the thankless IT sector, with roles ranging through print operator, operations support, technical support, software development, systems analysis and voice and data engineering. 

I still love to tinker with technology and have my own websites, several linux servers running my own Fediverse (Mastodon, Pixelfed, Peeertube) instances, my own Nextcloud server, and other various web services. My allegiances lie with MacOS and linux.

During my time as part of the WAITE wellbeing group my confidence, dignity and self-esteem has been greatly repaired and when I felt able, I was accepted as a volunteer in the group. Hand on heart, this is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever experienced and I was overjoyed when I was offered a paid role as Wellbeing Activity Project Worker alongside my amazing colleagues. 
I​ successfully applied for a vacant employment advisor role at the end of 2023 and worked in that capacity, alongside the wellbeing role (as well as ad-hoc IT support) until November 2024. At that point I successfully applied for the new Fundraising and Communications Manager role, where I currently work.
I​n my spare time I'm a member of the British Mycological Society, the North West Fungus Group, the RSPB, the BTO, the WWT and both the Lancashire and Cheshire Wildlife Trusts. I love hillwalking and nature and wildlife photography.

W​orking days

F​undraising & Comms Manager:M​onday to Thursday, 8am to 4pm

I​.T. Administrator: Fridays 8am to 4pm

C​ontact


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ADDRESS
Manchester Deaf Centre,
Crawford House,
Booth Street East,
M13 9GH

MONDAY - FRIDAY
09:00 – 17:00

CONTACT US

0161 273 3415
info@manchesterdeafcentre.com

Registered Charity Number: 1110373