Services update from Nicholas

Welcome to my August update about our hearing loss services. Yet another busy month of activity for the Peer Support Team, thank you for whatever way, big or small, you have contributed to the delivery of our services.

Read on for more details about how many people we’ve helped, what’s taking place and when, and ways you can get involved.

If you have any questions about current roles or our services, please get in touch by dropping me an email or a Teams message.

Helpdesk

Here are the latest figures available for people helped on the Helpdesk in July and August.

In this period, 23 different Helpdesk Responders were able to use their lived experience to help.

The graphics show the spread of topics people write in about. It is clear that support groups, technology and hearing aids/audiology dominate the concerns of people with hearing loss who get in touch.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to this invaluable service.

Teams

I hope everyone has now signed into Teams and had a look at, or interacted on a channel in our Hearing Link Services Volunteer Teams Channel. If you haven’t do give it a try!

There has been a regular volume of posts and comments across the channels with a new post on at least one channel, every two days on average, so well worth a regular visit!

It continues to be a source of information, photos, praise, thanks, laughs and learning. Here’s the trend over the last 30 days!

The tone is upbeat and supportive, so if you’d like to leave a comment or a reaction in the spirit of the post, please do! 👍👏😂🤔😎❤🥂😁

Thanks to everyone who contributes to this excellent community space.👍

Linkup support group – Cardiff

The LinkUp support group last month was a welcome return to Wales. Sixteen participants, including five hearing partners, made the trip to Cardiff for a weekend of sharing, solutions and discovery.                  

The fantastic delivery team expertly explored the questions the attendees had raised prior to the weekend, and explored the goals they wish to reach.

The agenda was complemented by sessions run by a local lipreading teacher and audiologist. The breaks and mealtimes were excellent moments of exchange and relaxed support. All the elements contributing to a feeling of inclusion, support and hope for living with hearing loss better.

Once again, the feedback was super positive and reflects the value of these groups.

“Nice to feel normal and be amongst people who are in similar positions and share similarities in the problems we experience”

“It is a lovely atmosphere and lovely to meet everyone”

“Thank you to everybody for the weekend, your kindness and support”

Thank you to Holly, Helen, Sue, Rachel and our peer support volunteer Ailsa for another brilliant LinkUp!