John Greenwood, Chair, Baldeep Thind, Charity Coordinator, Michelle Fletcher, Charity Coordinator, The Hospital Saturday Fund, presenting a grant of £10,000 to Gwen Georgiou, Trusts & Foundations Officer, and Caroline Girling, Major Giving Officer, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Companion for Life
The charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People provides individuals with hearing dogs to aid deaf children and adults in overcoming feelings of loneliness and reconnecting with life. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has matched thousands of dogs with deaf people since 1982 and currently has over 1,100 partnerships with working hearing dogs across the UK.
Hearing dogs can offer much love, companionship, and emotional support. This is especially important for many deaf individuals who seek assistance, as they may have experienced feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Hearing Dogs and Mental Health
Deafness can impact every aspect of a person’s life, including relationships, career, and self-esteem; and can pose a multitude of barriers for people to overcome. Many individuals with hearing loss may encounter challenges with their mental health at some point in their lives.
A study by the University of York demonstrated that being partnered with a hearing dog significantly improves a deaf person’s life. The research found that participants experienced improvements in wellbeing, mental health, and independence, along with reduced feelings of isolation and fearfulness.
Lifesaving Companions
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People offers different types of dog partnerships depending on the needs of the deaf individuals can be matched with a fully accredited hearing dog for out-and-about assistance, a sound support dog for help within the home, or a confidence and companion dog for emotional support.
These hearing dogs are not just pets; they are highly trained companions. Each dog is taught to respond to specific sounds for their handler, such as fire alarms, ringing telephones, and the sound of water splashing, indicating an overflowing bath. Additionally, they are also trained to wake their handler if asleep in bed, demonstrating their unique abilities and the immense value they bring to their owners.
The Grant
The Hospital Saturday Fund presented a grant of £10,000 to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. The grant’s purpose is to help provide lifetime support to 1,135 hearing dog partnerships throughout the UK, and with the help of The Hospital Saturday Fund, this will continue.
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