Founder of Your Local Cinema.com wins enteprising Young Brit ( 27/03/2009 )

Dean Rhodes-Brandon, founder of Your Local Cinema.com, a not-for-profit accessible cinema listings and information service has been presented the People's Choice Awards at the Daily Mail's Enterprising Young Brits Awards ceremony.

Thousands of people including readers of the Daily Mail newspaper voted for the twenty finalists. Winner Dean was a finalist in the Teen category and his company Your Local Cinema.com received the most votes overall. The company runs an information service and website that exists to create awareness of - and increase audience figures for - subtitled and audio described cinema releases and shows.

The company has worked with the UK film industry, technology companies and charities representing people with hearing or sight problems to ensure that the UK leads the world in 'accessible' cinema. Most popular cinemas now have facilities to screen the latest films with subtitles and audio description (a narrated soundtrack) for people with hearing or sight problems.

Eighteen-year-old winner Dean - who is profoundly deaf - founded the popular Your Local Cinema.com information service and website whilst still at school. Today he runs the film industry-sponsored service with the help of his family, as well as finding the time to study at college three days a week.

Dean said 'Winning this award will really help to spread awareness of 'accessible' cinema. It's an especially important one because it's voted for by the general public. It shows that my service makes a real difference to people with a hearing or sight problem. As we get older we may all lose some hearing or sight. We may appreciate services that can help us enjoy sound & vision!