UK Deaf Sport (UKDS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Joanne Cholerton as CEO of UKDS and DeaflympicsGB. 

Joanne’s role will focus on developing UKDS as a sustainable charity, ensuring parity in support and funding for deaf athletes, and bringing together the deaf community and partners in working towards our vision of every deaf person active and inspired by sport and physical activity. 

Joanne has over 25 years’ experience of successfully winning and delivering Government funded programmes, implementing transformational change and improving performance across the public and third sectors. She has proven ability as both a CEO and consultant in leading individual organisations and partnerships of diverse stakeholders to implement robust infrastructures that deliver their vision and goals. Joanne was named two years running as one of the Natwest Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise, which recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise and mission driven businesses in the UK.  

Joanne said of her appointment: 

“I am absolutely delighted to be the CEO of UK Deaf Sport. I am looking forward to working with the Board and partners across the deaf community to ensure that there are more opportunities for deaf people to participate in sport and physical activity throughout their lives and more deaf athletes performing on the world stage”.  

Piers Martin, Chair of UK Deaf Sport said: 

“We are very pleased to welcome Joanne as CEO of UK Deaf Sport, marking a critical step forward for the organisation and for the deaf community. Joanne has significant experience which will help UKDS to develop as an organisation and drive change towards our aspiration of every deaf person active and inspired by sport and physical activity.”

UK Deaf Sport is the lead organisation for deaf sports in UK. We give support, raise awareness and campaign for deaf people, so they have the equal opportunities in sport and physical activity as everyone else.