The captain of the England Men’s Deaf Football Team is backing efforts to improve access to health and wellbeing services for people with hearing loss across Wychavon.
Jamie Clarke is urging the Deaf community to get involved with a special focus group run by the Wychavon District Health Collaborative to help understand the needs of those who are Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. 
The session takes place at the Civic Centre in Pershore on 22 October from 12pm to 2pm. People who are Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing can come and share their experiences of the challenges they face with decision-makers and find out more about the Sensory Matters service. Run by the charity Sight Concern, the service provides advice, referrals and support to people who are Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing.
And it’s something Jamie believes is desperately needed as simple tasks like visiting a leisure centre, going to a GP or even catching a train can prove challenging for the Deaf community.
“Deaf life can have its difficulties and we need to share and acknowledge them,” the 34-year-old said.
“But there is no reason why Deaf people cannot have the same aspirations and achieve in the same way a non-Deaf person could, we just need the right support in place.
“Deaf people face a lot of health and wellbeing issues, including loneliness and isolation, as well as literacy issues so it’s great organisations like local doctors, Wychavon and Sight Concern are coming together to raise awareness of this issue and respond to the needs of the Deaf community. That’s why it’s important people go to the focus group and share their experiences so the needs of the Deaf community can be properly understood.”
Jamie lives locally having been brought up and spent most of his life in Bretforton. With a football mad father and grandfather, he discovered his talent for the beautiful game at a young age.
And it was football that would prove his salvation. At 17 he dropped out of a travel and tourism course at college because of the challenges posed by the amount of written work required. It was then he received what would turn out to be a life changing offer to take part in trials for the England Deaf Football Team.
“I grew up in the hearing world because my mum was determined I would have a normal life and the same opportunities as everyone else, so I went to a mainstream school,” he said.
“When I turned up at the trials there were all these young boys there who were Deaf and who knew British Sign Language, which was all new to me. Before that I thought I was the only one. It was the moment the Deaf community found me and while I’m proud to be a part of both worlds, my Deaf identity is really important to me.”
Jamie made his England debut at 18 in the inaugural world championships in Greece. He has represented his country many times at world and European level, winning a bronze medal in 2015 at the European Championships. Jamie has also appeared for Team GB at the Deaflympics.
While most of his sporting experiences have been moments to remember, Jamie has also faced discrimination on the football field, particularly when playing hearing football where he has been subjected to mocking gestures and slurs about his hearing loss. But Jamie says the situation is thankfully improving.
“My response to any abuse I received was to score goals. I thought you can mock me all you want but ultimately, I’m winning.”
Outside of football Jamie is involved with the Deaf England Cricket Team, is a part-time model and has a love of animals.
But it is his work advocating for the Deaf community that matters most to him, which is why last year he appeared on the television show SAS: Who Dares Wins to raise awareness of the issues the Deaf community faces with a wider audience.
“Growing up I was a big David Beckham fan but there was nobody like me to follow. Lots of children tell me they look up to me and being a role model and an advocate is really important to me,” he said.
“Things are changing, and I want to keep that momentum up and make the Deaf community proud.”
Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/wellbeing to find out more or email
Pictured: Joanne Webber, Head of Operations at Sight Concern Worcestershire, Jamie Clarke, Captain of the England Men's Deaf Football Team, and Hayley Corbett, Wychavon's Health and Wellbeing Officer.
