Minister for disabled people backs Hearing Loop Awareness Week (2-8 November)
The Minister for Disabled People has lent his support to the national campaign, Hearing Loop Awareness Week (2nd-8th November), organised by the UK-wide charity Hearing Link.
Justin Tomlinson MP says it’s vital that more shops and buildings across the UK are equipped with hearing loops which provide a communication lifeline for the country’s two million hearing aid users.
Hearing loops work by using an electro-magnetic signal connected to a hearing aid which helps to cut out external noise in a conversation. They are commonly found in shops, libraries, banks, churches, post offices, railway stations, airport terminals, theatres, buses, hotels and meeting rooms. However, lack of awareness of hearing loops means that not all are in full working order, have poor signage or in some cases are not switched on.
From today (Monday 2nd November), Hearing Link, will be joined by more than 300 volunteers as the nation’s biggest ever survey of hearing loops get underway as part of Hearing Loop Awareness Week. As well as checking public buildings and businesses, they will focus on assessing the availability and quality of hearing loops in pharmacies. All data gathered during the surveys for Hearing Loop Awareness Week will be compiled, mapped and published on partner site http://letsloopnow.com.
Speaking ahead of the week-long activities, Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, said hearing loops are vital tool for communities. He said: “I want to offer my full support for Hearing Loop Awareness Week. Hearing loops are a vital tool to ensure communities reach out to everyone and also have clear business benefits – they help companies grow by becoming more accessible to a greater number of customers.
“This week get involved by supporting Hearing Link’s ‘Let’s Loop the UK’ campaign. They are surveying the availability of hearing loops across the country so sign up to check your local shops, railway stations, libraries and help improve services for people with hearing impairments.”
Hearing Loop Awareness Week is part of a wider initiative called ‘Let’s Loop the UK’ established by Hearing Link in 2013, which runs in partnership with Rotary International. Let’s Loop projects have already been set up in communities across the UK including Mr Tomlinson’s own constituency Swindon North.
A number of events have been planned nationwide by the charity’s loop projects who are working in association with businesses including The National Trust, Barclays, HSBC, ASDA, Marks & Spencer and Nationwide.
Lorraine Gailey, Chief Executive of Hearing Link, added: “Loop technology is so simple, it isn’t expensive, and it is found everywhere. However, our volunteers across the UK have found not all are well maintained and this can discourage people with hearing loss from living their life fully.
“Hearing Loop Awareness Week is an opportunity to turn the spotlight on businesses and with our loop checkers visiting shops and public buildings throughout this week to check on signage, staff awareness and the quality of the loops; we hope it will provide a picture of what needs to be done, so we can bring businesses on-side with us.
“I am delighted that Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, is supporting Hearing Loop Awareness Week and I hope with his support we can raise awareness and change people’s attitudes and understanding towards hearing loops.”
For further information about Hearing Loop Awareness Week or to get involved, visit: www.hearinglink.org/loop-week.
If you would like to find out how to use a hearing loop with your hearing aid, contact Hearing Link’s Helpdesk on Tel: 0300 111 1113; SMS: 07526 123255 or email helpdesk@hearinglink.org for support.
For further information, please contact Lorna Armstrong, Hearing Link’s Marketing & Communications Manager by emailing lorna.armstrong@hearinglink.org or on Tel/SMS: 07534 563485.
Photograph: Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Disabled People.
About Hearing Link
Hearing Link is a UK charity for people who have developed any level of hearing loss and their family and friends. It provides information and support and puts them in contact with others who have similar experiences. It aims to give people the knowledge, skills, confidence and contacts so they can more easily manage the practical and emotional challenges that hearing loss brings. It works across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For more information, visit http://hearinglink.org/press-office.
About Hearing Loop Awareness Week
Hearing Loop Awareness Week takes place from November 2nd to 8th 2015. Hearing Link currently has 10 ‘Let’s Loop’ groups across the UK in Eastbourne, Surrey, Lewes, Worthing, Swindon, Westminster, Chester, Poynton (Manchester), Derby and Newcastle. Further groups are being established in Salisbury, Calne (Wiltshire), Cotswolds, Epping Forest, Redbridge (Essex), Londonderry, Belfast and Edinburgh.
There are 10 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss – one in six of the population. 3.7 million people between the ages of 16 to 64-years-old and 6.3 million are aged 65 and over. 70% of 70-year-olds and 40% of 50-year-olds have some form of a hearing loss. Four million people in the UK would benefit from the use of using a hearing aid. By 2031 that figure is expected to reach 14.5 million.