What do you do for RNID?

I have been managing the Sound Advice Service on the Isle of Wight since starting work with RNID in 1992.

We give deaf and hard of hearing people advice on daily living equipment such as TV listening devices, adapted phones or vibrating alerting devices such as doorbells, smoke alarms and baby listeners.

We also support hearing aid wearers with routine maintenance, and encourage people who are finding it difficult to deal with a hearing loss. It is estimated that there are around 20,000 people on the island with a significant hearing loss. Many of these are elderly and frail and find it difficult to access services because transport links are poor. We have a team of trained volunteers who travel the island helping clients with their hearing loss problems.

I have also been doing some work with schools to try to help children understand that exposure to loud noises can damage their hearing. I have spoken to 4,500 children in the last year and given a short interactive demonstration in their assemblies to show the permanent damage caused by loud personal stereos and video games.

Describe a typical working day

My job is very varied.

I could have a meeting to attend with a local authority, health provider or another charity on the island. Or I might be giving a talk on the project and RNID to a local group such as the Women’s Institute or a Rotary Club. I will go anywhere I can get a group of middle-aged or elderly people together. This is one of my favourite parts of the job, as demonstrating the equipment always creates tremendous interest and people are fascinated by it. Even if they don’t have a need for it themselves, they usually know someone who can benefit.

Finally, I spend some time each day talking to the people I manage, including any volunteers who come into the office. I consider this vital as it is the only way I can keep in touch with the work of the project and pick up case studies that I can use in my talks.

The project is funded and I always have to keep an eye on keeping the funders happy. I have to report on a regular basis to make sure money is being used for the purpose for it was given.

What do you enjoy most about working for RNID?

I love the variety and flexibility of my job. I never really know what a day will be like and I am given a lot of freedom to be creative in the way I work.

I get a tremendous amount of pleasure from the people I meet on a day-to-day basis. Many of them are elderly and have led extremely interesting lives that they are only too pleased to share. In many cases, contact with Sound Advice is the first time they have spoken to someone who really understands what it is like to have a hearing loss.

We get fantastic feedback and lovely letters. It is not unusual for the team to have people hold their hand and cry because they feel that they have been understood at last.

What qualifications or experience help to get a job like yours?

There are no specific qualifications but you would need some sort of background in management of people and budgets. Good interpersonal skills and an ability to speak in public would be an asset. You also need to be able to think on your feet and have some imagination.

Any advice for people who would like a similar job?

You would need to be mature and have some previous experience of managing a team. If you have no experience in the voluntary sector, try to do some sort of voluntary work, as it is a very different culture to working in business.