Helping deaf children learn to listen and talk since 1981

Shirley and David Metherell MBEs set up The Elizabeth Foundation 40 years ago to help preschool deaf children learn to listen and talk. Shirley sadly passed away in August 2021.

During 2021, we marked the first 40 years of the charity's work in a variety of ways - and on this page you can find out more.

40 years of memories

In our "40 years of memories" video you can find out about our story over the last four decades.

Listen to Shirley as she describes how she was inspired to set up the charity. Hear the memories of former students from each decade from the 1980s to the 2020s.

In this video we have collected all of the individual stories together - you can watch them separately in the videos further down the page.

Watch each of the individual films in the "40 years of memories" video:

How it all started

Shirley Metherell MBE describes how a visit to the John Tracy Center in the USA helped inspire the creation of The Elizabeth Foundation.

The original line-up

The original line-up (including the sister of James, who sadly passed away) meet online to share their memories of the charity's earliest days.

Imogen's memories - the 1990s

Imogen Manuel (who is one of our Trustees) tells us about her time as a preschooler at The Elizabeth Foundation during the 1990s.

Thomas's memories - the 2010s

Thomas Harvey talks to us about his time at The Elizabeth Foundation as a young child during the 2010s.

Elizabeth's memories - the 1980s

Elizabeth Metherell, Shirley's daughter, talks about her memories of coming to The Elizabeth Foundation in the early 1980s.

Building the Family Centre

Elizabeth Metherell describes how her father David - along with a small group of other parents - built the first part of the Family Centre in the mid 1980s.

Jodie's memories - the 2000s

Jodie Ounsley (who is one of our Patrons) talks to us about her time at The Elizabeth Foundation as a young child during the 2000s.

Fred's memories - the 2020s

Fred Windridge talks to his mum about his time at The Elizabeth Foundation as he leaves in July 2021.

Help us support deaf children for another 40 years!

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