Senior Leadership Team
SLT
Tania Bushell
Chief Executive Officer
Tania was appointed CEO of BDC in January 2015 with a focus on strategic change. She is responsible for delivering BDC’s strategic aims and has a wealth of voluntary sector management experience. Tania also has a background in copyright law and has been the director of 2 companies in the private sector.
Tania recently stepped down as a trustee for a local charity, a position she held for 9 years.
She lives with her husband who is severely hard of hearing, two grown up daughters and a Hearing Dog named Ozzie. Tania enjoys playing pickleball but most of her spare time is taken up with playing walking football and has represented England in the sport for the past 5 years.
Bernadette Bridge
Deputy CEO
Bernadette joined the charity in 2023 having worked in education and health sectors. She is responsible for client service delivery and coordinates our British Sign Language courses and deaf awareness training.
In her spare time Bernadette enjoys travelling and spending time with her family.
Pippa May
Operations Manager
Pippa has been part of BDC’s leadership team since 2015 but has worked for the charity since 2004. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the deaf centre and coordinates our volunteers.
Pippa lives locally with her husband and enjoys holidays in the sun and eating out with friends.
Staff
Alison Foot
BSL Course Administrator
Having joined the charity in 2012, Alison has worked across various departments. She is currently helping to oversee BSL course delivery.
Alison brings lived experience and insight to her role as a British Sign Language user.
She enjoys travelling, spending time with family and taking her dog Milo for long walks with her husband.
Julie Ravariere-Moakes
Advice and Support Co-Ordinator
Julie Ravariere-Moakes has spent more than two years volunteering and working at The Bexley Deaf Centre, deepening her commitment to accessible communication and community support. She also brings over 13 Years experience from Bexley Council, including key roles within children’s services, supporting families and young people.
Born hard of hearing, Julie has lip-read since childhood, uses hearing aids and is passionate about BSL. She also loves to travel, bringing curiosity and cultural awareness into her work and everyday life.
Paul Goulden
Fundraising Co-ordinator
Paul joined Bexley Deaf Centre in January 2026 as part-time fundraising co-ordinator and has extensive experience of working in the voluntary sector both locally and nationally. He is currently learning BSL.
In his spare time he enjoys walking Molly the cockapoo, cheering on the England Rugby team, and woodworking.
Bellinda Miller
Finance Assistant
Bel joined BDC in 2023 having worked at Charlton Athletic for over 33 years in their payroll and finance department. She has a special interest in services for deaf and hard of hearing people as both her grandparents were deaf BSL users. Bel is currently learning BSL with us and would like to become fluent.
Outside of work, Bel enjoys doing crosswords and reading.
Vounteers
Natasha Morris
Volunteer
My name is Natasha Morris, and I am a volunteer at Bexley Deaf Centre. I have been volunteering since July 2023.
I took an interest in BSL during lockdown and looked up videos online. At the time, I was having support from a CBT therapist. She suggested that I volunteer. I searched the internet and found Bexley Deaf Centre. The charity trained me in hearing aid maintenance, and I volunteer weekly at the Central Library in Bexleyheath. In 2024 I passed my Level 1 BSL qualification with BDC, and I am currently studying level 2. I really love volunteering at BDC as it gives me a chance to meet and help people in the community with the bonus of using my BSL. I feel really supported by Bexley Deaf Centre as a volunteer.
Teresa Underwood & Maureen Bartlett
Volunteer
Theresa and I are sisters and are both hearing impaired and wear hearing aids.
A few years ago, both Theresa and I wanted to learn BSL and successfully passed level 1 and 2 with Bexley Deaf Centre. With our newfound knowledge, we decided that we would like to volunteer there.
We started with the befriending service that Bexley Deaf Centre. Both Theresa and I visited a Deaf couple in their home weekly. Sitting and talking to them enabled us to support and assist them, with the bonus of being able to use our BSL. We both found this rewarding and have developed firm friendships with this couple who have now moved out of the area.
In addition to this, we now volunteer at one of Bexley Deaf Centre’s hearing aid drop-ins at a local church. We distribute batteries, re-tube hearing aids and we can give people general advice and reassurance as we are both hearing aid wearers ourselves.
We both love volunteering for Bexley Deaf Centre. It is so rewarding when people appreciate what you have done for them.
In 2024, we were nominated by Bexley Deaf Centre for the Bexley Volunteer Excellence Awards which we were delighted to win.