A former police superintendent has been appointed trustee at Doncaster Deaf Trust.
Neil Thomas, 56, finished his career managing operational policing in Doncaster and was a member of the Adult and Children’s Safeguarding Boards and the Community Safety Partnership.
He served in the Royal Air Force before joining the police in 1993, serving as a hostage and crisis negotiator for fifteen years, before retiring in 2022.
A resident of North Lincolnshire, Neil currently serves as Chair of the Youth Justice Service Management Board in Doncaster and is an Associate Hospital Manager in two mental health facilities in the region.
Alexis Johnson, chief executive of Doncaster Deaf Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Neil’s standing in the community to our Board of Trustees. He brings expertise in several areas – safeguarding, influencing at strategic partnership level, risk management, and performance delivery.
“Neil has a wealth of experience which further strengthens our Board of Trustees, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to provide for and support the children, pupils, students, and adults who rely on our services.”
Neil’s interests include sport, travel, and long walks with his dog, a labrador called Riley.
Neil said: “I am thrilled to join the Trust and look forward to assisting in its development in the years ahead. The Trust delivers vital services and education to the deaf community, and it is an honour to be able to work with such an excellent team in implementing our plans to further develop those services and reach even more people who need our support.”
The Doncaster Deaf Trust, which this year celebrates its 195th anniversary, manages a range of services including Little Learners Day Nursery, Doncaster School for the Deaf, Dickson House Children’s Home, Communication Specialist College Doncaster, and Aspire to Be Employability Services.
The Trust’s leadership team is actively involved in various boards and strategic partnerships across the South Yorkshire Mayoral region, ensuring that Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision remains a priority.