Building relationships
Working together as a team to help others with hearing loss has positive impact, as we know very well. With an extended team of volunteers supporting our personalised services and wider charity function, more and more opportunities are being created to work in partnership at events and other opportunities.
Hearing Loss Community Days this year have provided a wonderful opportunities for Peer Support Volunteers to get to know other Hearing Dogs volunteers and much more beside.
Julia’s story
Peer Support Volunteer Julia attended her first community event last month and had wonderful experience meeting other volunteers from the Charity.
“I attended my first Hearing Loss Community Day at the end of October in my capacity as a Hearing Link Services volunteer. It was great to meet other enthusiastic volunteers from our Charity.
“I realised that having two sides of the Charity together is complementary and inspiring, and it is clear how the community days, framed in this way, can open new channels for people with hearing loss to meet and discuss many different issues related to hearing impairment.
“My experience was positive and the hearing dogs definitely added to the welcoming atmosphere. One of the visitors who came needed advice on many issues, and I was able to refer her to our wide range of services where she would get further support.
“I sat and chatted to her alongside a volunteer who attended with a hearing dog, and we all shared our stories and what we felt was difficult about living with hearing loss. The dog sat with us and brought us together; making us feel comfortable so we could talk more freely about our own problems. We shared all sorts of thoughts and much laughter.
“Being able to open up about what services we offer – Helpdesk, LinkUp support groups, technology, the website, and our newly launched Helpful Hours – is beneficial to everyone who attends a Hearing Loss Community Day. I look forward to the next one I can attend.”
Maxine and Misha’s story
Hearing Dogs volunteer Maxine met our peer support volunteer Misha at an event she had arranged last summer. They realised quickly that they complemented each other perfectly and formed a lovely bond.
Maxine, pictured right, said: “How wonderfully eloquent Misha is. Her talks are engaging and full of interesting information. The audience really warms to her and are eager to ask questions. It’s a pleasure to have such a dedicated volunteer onboard.”
Misha is attending another event in London with Maxine this month. She says: “My hearing loss has been gradual and up until meeting Maxine my volunteering had all been online and totally technology (and cat) focussed. Maxine’s experience was so different with a complete loss and lots of face-to-face volunteering with Walter, her hearing dog, an essential part of her life. With one of us dog focussed and the other technology centred, both with very different communication styles, we worked really well as a team. Not quite ‘good cop’ (dog) and ‘bad cop’ (tech) but a contrasting and complimentary mix of skills. I learned a great deal and I hope our audience did too.”