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Volunteer-News-Spring-2017.Pdf Volunteer News • Spring 2017 Make lots of life changing friends Read all about it Volunteer spotlight The latest news from Hearing Dogs Volunteer Recruitment Update Our ‘Dog lovers wanted’ volunteer recruitment campaign has been hugely successful: we have registered over 150 new homes for our puppies to stay in on a long and short term Name: Bob Bowyer basis in the last year (2016/17). In total we Role: Office Volunteer and Driver have welcomed over 600 brand new What do you get up to? volunteers! Thank you to everyone who has I drive puppies and dogs to their new helped us by spreading the word, helping out recipients or socialisers around the at (and even running) recruitment events and country. I have also had the honour putting up posters. of driving some celebrities including Pandora and Linda Robson. I also Word of mouth remains our number one recruitment source for new help out the Volunteering Team with volunteers. Special thanks go to the following volunteers who have the database and eating cake! been mentioned by name: Heidi Lay, Ian and Judy Mason, Fabia Why do you enjoy your role? Reeves, Dan and Amanda Mayo, Sheila Hoffman, Sue Beale, Jackie I enjoy volunteering for Hearing Dogs Marchant and Fiona Daniels. because I am made to feel part of the team and people are friendly and I We have also held two successful Volunteer Fairs in Yorkshire, one see that they are so committed to the at Bielby and one outside York, organised by volunteer Richard charity. The cakes are good too! Cantrell. Both were very well attended and we had many people register an interest in volunteering, some of whom are up and Why do you volunteer for Hearing running already! Thank you to all those volunteers who were involved Dogs? in these events. I volunteer for Hearing Dogs because it is such an important charity and seeing the difference the dogs make to recipients is wonderful. I also love dogs. Do you have any dogs in your life? I have a lovely Collie Lurcher Cross called Max who has just turned 11. As well as all of this, Bob is abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth to raise funds and awareness for Hearing Dogs. You 2017 Dates for the diary can sponsor Bob via his Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/ 1-7 June Volunteers’ Week fundraising/BobBowyer 9 July Hearing Dogs Sportive 22 July BWC Volunteer Fair 10 Sept Late Summer Show 10 Sept Great North Run 28 Sept Hearing Dogs Awards 25-26 Nov Christmas Market Welcome Centre due for completion in November 2017! 2 Volunteer News • Spring 2017 Make lots of life changing friends Deaf Awareness Week 2017 Thank you to our volunteers “I just want to say to all the From 15-21 May 2017 Deaf Awareness Week will celebrate work that socialisers that the recipients has made a difference for people who are deaf or have a hearing loss. REALLY, REALLY appreciate all the hard work that you put into looking Promoted by the UK Council on Deafness, Deaf Awareness Week is after the puppies and training them also an opportunity to raise awareness that 1 in 6 people in the UK are up. Our dogs are only confident in deaf or have a hearing loss. their working lives because of your efforts. Thank you all!” Christine Wright with hearing dog As part of Deaf Awareness Week Hearing Dogs will be launching a Jessie new fundraising pack, in collaboration with Specsavers (more information on page 9). We will also be highlighting some of our “I would like to thank everyone that wonderful partnerships throughout the week. has been involved in Digby’s life so far. You have given me the most amazing gift of this fantastic hearing The UK Council on Deafness have produced some great posters which dog, I am absolutely in love with him can be downloaded by clicking on the image of the poster below. and he has an amazing effect on me. I am really enjoying every minute I spend with him, he is my lifesaver. Some facts: Thank you all so very much.” • 1 in 6 people in the UK are affected by Lesley Mangan with hearing dog hearing loss. Digby • 6.5 million of these are aged 60 and over. • 3.7 million are of working age. • Around 2 million people in the UK have hearing aids. • About 800,000 are severely or profoundly deaf. • Adults and children who are deaf or hard of hearing face communication barriers which can cause: - Lack of confidence - Exclusion from society - Depression - Isolation - Unemployment • Technology and the way we communicate is helping to change this. Things to remember! “Reading all the updates about your If you meet a deaf person, remember to: ‘adventures’ with the puppies and • Face the person while you are speaking, don’t turn away. watching many of you in puppy • Speak clearly without shouting. class I am amazed at your patience • Repeat yourself if necessary. and the fact that you keep coming back for more. It really brings • Never say “it doesn’t matter”. home to us recipients what a huge • If the person doesn’t understand, debt we owe you. Without you we don’t give up! wouldn’t have our gorgeous dogs.” • Write it down or draw a picture. Joyce Patterson with hearing dog • Speak one at a time. Toby • Keep your mouth visible. • Smile and relax! • Don’t speak too quickly or too slowly. 3 Volunteer News • Spring 2017 Make lots of life changing friends Awash with awards Desmond Wilcox Volunteer of the Year For the Hearing Dogs volunteer who has shown great dedication in his or her role within the Charity and made an exceptional difference. Hearing Dogs Open Doors Award For a business or company that has gone the extra The annual Hearing Dogs Awards sponsored by mile to make a hearing dog partnership feel Specsavers will take place in London on Thursday welcome when using their service. 28 September 2017. You can complete your nomination online at The Awards promises to be another star-studded www.hearingdogs.org.uk/awards2017 or email occasion and a chance to celebrate our Veronica Pearce life-changing partnerships, volunteers and E [email protected]. supporters, with inspirational stories from across the UK. Please ensure you include all the information requested below, in your email: If your life has been transformed by a hearing dog, • Award category. or you know someone who relies whole-heartedly • Your name and address. on their hearing dog for that essential life-enhancing • Email address. support, or if you and your hearing dog have been • Telephone number – and please indicate made unusually welcome by a business or shop, or preferred method of contact: telephone maybe you know a volunteer or someone in the (voice), mobile (text), minicom or email. community who has gone that extra mile to tell • Your nomination – the name of the person people about the work of Hearing Dogs for Deaf you are nominating and their hearing dog if People, then we’d love to hear from you. appropriate. • Nomination story: in no more than 200-250 Deadline for nominations is Sunday 11 June words please tell us why you have nominated 2017. this person, hearing dog or partnership for an award. And the categories are… Please note: Finalists will be required to participate Specsavers Life-changing Hearing Dog of in the filming of a short film about their nomination the Year story that will be released to the media. All finalists For partnerships where the hearing dog has will be invited to attend the Awards ceremony on completely transformed the life of a recipient. Thursday 28 September. Young Person’s Hearing Dog of the Year For hearing dogs that have completely changed the life of a child, bringing independence, confidence, security and companionship. Hearing Dog Hero of the Year For a hearing dog that has gone above and beyond their training, potentially saving a life or helping to Jean Todd: Volunteer avert a dangerous situation. of the Year 2016 Hearing Dogs Community Champion of the Year For someone who makes a big impact for Hearing If you would like to attend the event yourself, tickets Dogs within their local community, whether a will go on sale shortly. recipient, speaker, fundraiser or maybe even a Email [email protected] to register member of staff. your interest. 4 Volunteer News • Spring 2017 Make lots of life changing friends Volunteer awards in 2017 Room to Reward—Hearing Dog Niven and recipient Pauline Young Vinspired Superhero of the Month— Rachel Albin Vinspired is the UK’s leading volunteering charity for young people. Every month Vinspired select a Volunteer Superhero. In January, our very own young volunteer, Rachel Albin, was selected. Rachel has been our fabulous Christmas elf for 4 years running! Her smile never drops and she welcomes both deaf and hearing guests to our Christmas Market with grace and good cheer. We’ve been lucky enough to be able to work with Galaxy Hot Chocolate Outstanding our friends at ‘Room to Reward’ again to reward Volunteer Award—Sophie Biebuyck another of our hardworking volunteers. Room to Congratulations to Sophie! And well done to her Reward offer hidden heroes within charities the hearing dog Rusty for keeping a careful eye on the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing and deserving hamper full of goodies Sophie received as a prize break. This was the first time they’ve honoured a on her birthday! four-pawed hero! Niven and recipient Pauline Young volunteer at the Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education, where Niven has helped many young deaf students develop confidence and skills by sitting with them whilst they practise reading.
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