An Oscar-winning writer and actor has been commended with an honorary degree from Keele University for her outstanding work to benefit the deaf community.

Rachel Shenton, who originally hails from Caverswall in Staffordshire, was made a Doctor of the University at this year’s graduation ceremonies for her outstanding contribution in raising awareness for educational support for disabilities in children, as an inspirational role model for young people, and for her commitment to equality and diversity.

Rachel said: “It was such a surreal moment, but I feel so proud of it and I am very, very grateful to Keele.”

Rachel is an Academy Award-winning writer and actor, who started her career at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where her controversial play received critical acclaim. Her screenplay debut, The Silent Child, won an Oscar in 2018 for Best Live Action Short Film and told the story of a deaf girl who is taught sign language.

Rachel also campaigns for equal opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing people, and as a proud ambassador of both the National Deaf Children’s Society and local charity DeafLinks she has been raising awareness for well over a decade.

Rachel said that she was incredibly proud that her own creation - The Silent Child - had been used to bring about a social change and raise awareness of the issues facing deaf people, having presented the film to members of Parliament and the United Nations.

She said: “The accolade that we won was brilliant, but from there we put deafness and the subject on arguably one of the biggest stages in the world, and started what felt like a national conversation.”

Rachel added that anyone with the urge to create art to effect social change can do so, saying that perseverance and support from family and friends are the most important things.

To anyone wishing to make such art, she said: “Just believe that you can. Chris Overton and I and the whole of our team are a good example that when you really want to do something and you believe in it, it doesn’t matter how limited the resources are - you can do it. And surround yourself with people that feel the same way. Keep being ambitious and keep brainstorming ideas, and if you feel really, really passionately about an idea, then don’t stop until it is made.”