Mariette Mulvenna, RNID Outreach Information Officer says, “This service has been set up because many people with hearing loss may need help and support when they first get a hearing aid. Even those who were given a hearing aid years ago experience difficulties and everyday life may be frustrating for them, their families and their friends.”

Five volunteers, the majority of whom are experienced hearing aid users, have now been trained and are ready to provide support to other hearing aid users who are experiencing difficulties. The volunteer may only visit the user once or may visit five or six times – depending on what support is required. All the volunteers are from the Belfast area.

Brian Symington, RNID NI Director explained, “This project, which has been made possible due to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, is a fantastic opportunity for experienced hearing aid volunteers to provide support and friendship to new hearing aid users in their local community.”

If you would be interested in having a volunteer visit you in your home contact Mariette Mulvenna by telephone/textphone 028 90239619, fax 028 90312032 or by email mariette.mulvenna@rnid.org.uk.

Notes to editors

NOTES TO EDITORS
For more details, contact Mariette Mulvenna, RNID Outreach Information Officer Telephone/textphone 028 9023 9619
Fax 028 9031 2032
Email: mariette.mulvenna@rnid.org.uk

Funding for this service has been kindly awarded by the Big Lottery Fund.

RNID is the largest charity representing the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. As a membership charity, we aim to achieve a radically better quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing people. We do this in the following ways:
·Campaigning and lobbying to change laws and government policies.
·Challenging negative perceptions around deafness and hearing loss.
·Providing information and raising awareness of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus.
·Training courses and consultancy on deafness and disability.
·Communication services including sign language interpreters.
·Training of interpreters, lipspeakers and speech-to-text operators.
·Seeking lasting change in education for deaf children and young people.
·Employment programmes to help deaf people into work.
·Care services for deaf and hard of hearing people with additional needs.
·Typetalk, the national telephone relay service for deaf and hard of hearing people.
·Equipment and products for deaf and hard of hearing people.
·Social, medical and technical research.
·For more information about RNID, visit: www.rnid.org.uk or contact RNID's Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email: information@rnid.org.uk