A CHARITY leader is celebrating 50 years of supporting Cheshire's deaf community.
Gill Reeder, CEO of the Northwich-based Deaf & Sensory Network (DSN), has reached her half-century work anniversary, marking a lifelong commitment to breaking down barriers and improving the lives of people with sensory loss across the county and beyond.
Beginning her career in the early 1970s with the Chester and North Wales Society for the Deaf, which later became the Cheshire Deaf Society and eventually DSN, Gill has been at the forefront of championing support, understanding, and inclusion for deaf individuals.
Dave Fardoe, chairman of DSN's board of trustees, said: "This is a milestone achievement of an amazing individual, who shows such dedication and passion for such an illustrious career, and I think we can all say how much we admire the work you've done.
"From an administrator, to taking over the support teams, to now as our CEO, which you are executing brilliantly.
"Thank you for everything you've done for the organisation and for all the people you've supported throughout the last 50 years."
Gill qualified as a social worker at Wrexham College and later studied management of voluntary organisations at The Open University.
Throughout her career, she has led key partnerships with local authorities, delivered youth projects, and supported research into the links between deafness and dementia.
Under her leadership, DSN has expanded its services to include Positive Hearing LLP, a not-for-profit audiology service, and a training arm that provides accredited British Sign Language courses.
Reflecting on her career, Gill said: "Looking back over the last 50 years, I feel incredibly privileged to have worked alongside so many inspiring colleagues and community members.
"My greatest joy has been seeing the difference we can make when barriers are removed and people feel truly heard and included.
"The deaf community has taught me so much about resilience, creativity, and kindness, and I'm proud to have played a part in making services fairer and more accessible.
"This milestone isn't just mine - it belongs to everyone who has shared this journey with me."
DSN marked the occasion with a celebration event at Planaterra in Chester, sponsored by MRD Technologies.