In 2026, both Kitson Boyce Solicitors and the Deaf Academy are celebrating their 200th anniversaries. Although each organisation has spent the last two centuries serving the people of Devon in very different ways, they are now working together to champion accessibility, inclusion and community.

As part of the partnership, five colleagues from Kitson Boyce are undertaking British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 training delivered by the Deaf Academy, helping to improve communication with Deaf clients and make legal services more accessible.

Alongside this commitment to learning, Kitson Boyce has also become Headline Sponsor of the Deaf Academy’s 200th Anniversary Gala Dinner, supporting the charity’s bicentenary celebrations and helping to raise funds for its work with Deaf children and young people.

The collaboration is particularly fitting given the long-standing relationship between the two organisations. Kitson Boyce Managing Partner Rhodri Davey first joined the Deaf Academy’s Board of Trustees in 2009 and, after serving as an Academy Board Advisor, returned as a Trustee in 2017. He will complete his current term on the Board later this year, bringing to a close many years of dedicated service to the Academy.

The bicentenary partnership provides an opportunity to celebrate not only the shared history of the two organisations, but also a relationship built on a common commitment to supporting Devon’s communities.

Rhodri Davey, Managing Partner at Kitson Boyce, said:

“As we celebrate 200 years of serving our communities, we wanted to mark this milestone in a way that reflects who we are today and the values that will shape our future. ‘Putting People First’ is at the heart of everything we do, and our partnership with the Deaf Academy brings that commitment to life.

“I have been privileged to support the Deaf Academy in a number of roles since 2009, first as a Trustee, then as an Academy Board Advisor, before returning to the Board of Trustees in 2017. Seeing the Academy’s work and the life-changing opportunities it creates for Deaf children and young people has been hugely rewarding.

“As I complete my current term on the Board later this year, it feels especially meaningful that our two bicentenary organisations are strengthening their partnership. By learning British Sign Language and supporting the Academy’s 200th Anniversary Gala Dinner, we hope to make our services more accessible while celebrating an organisation that has transformed lives across Devon for two centuries.”

Mark Stocks, Partnerships and Community Manager at the Deaf Academy, said:

“We are delighted to be working alongside Kitson Boyce during this very special anniversary year. Rhodri has made a tremendous contribution to the Deaf Academy over many years, and this partnership is a wonderful reflection of the relationship that has developed between our organisations.

“Kitson Boyce’s commitment goes far beyond sponsorship. By investing in British Sign Language training for its people, the firm is helping to improve accessibility while encouraging greater understanding of the Deaf community. We hope this inspires other organisations across Devon to consider how they too can make their services more inclusive.”

Founded in 1826, the Deaf Academy has evolved into one of the UK’s leading providers of education and support for Deaf children and young people. Today, from its purpose-built campus in Exmouth, it provides specialist education and residential care while supporting Deaf young people to achieve their aspirations and fulfil their potential.

Also tracing its roots back to 1826, Kitson Boyce is one of the South West’s largest independent law firms, providing legal services to individuals, families and businesses from offices across Devon.

The partnership forms part of both organisations’ bicentenary celebrations and demonstrates how two Devon institutions with a shared 200-year heritage are looking firmly towards the future – ensuring their legacy is measured not only by their history, but by the difference they continue to make in their communities.