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RNID Northern Ireland receive Queen's top volunteering award - 25 June 2009

RNID Northern Ireland's pioneering hearing aid volunteer project has been presented with the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, which has equivalent status to a MBE and the highest honour bestowed upon voluntary groups in the UK.

At a special ceremony in RNID Northern Ireland’s Wilton House headquarters, Commander Keith Cochrane, Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borourgh of Belfast, presented an inscribed commemorative crystal and a certificate signed by the Queen in recognition of the charity’s work empowering hearing aid users in Northern Ireland to understand the benefits of their hearing aids.

Brian Symington with volunteers Gillian Stevenson and Ted Deane accept the Queen's Award from Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast Commander Keith Cochrane.

Thanks to the time and effort given by 70 volunteers since its launch in 2003, the Big Lottery funded project has provided essential practical support and friendship to 700 hearing aid users in their local communities. As well as showing people how to clean and maintain their hearing aids, the volunteers, many of whom are hearing aid users themselves, assist families and carers in improving their communication and demonstrating equipment which makes everyday life easier for people with a hearing loss.

Commander Keith Cochrane says: "I was delighted to present, on behalf of Her Majesty, the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of the valuable and impressive work of RNID Northern Ireland's volunteers, who are helping to build the confidence of people in adjusting to life wearing hearing aids and re-connect with their family, friends and community."

Director of RNID Northern Ireland, Brian Symington MBE, says: "I'm privileged to accept the Queen's Award, which is a fantastic honour for our project and dedicated volunteers, who’ve shown tremendous commitment in changing the lives of hearing aid users throughout Northern Ireland.”

For more information about volunteering opportunities with the project, contact RNID Northern Ireland Outreach Volunteer Co-ordinator, Gabriel McManus on email: gabriel.mcmanus@rnid.org.uk

RNID Northern Ireland is encouraging people to value their hearing health and take the charity’s hearing check by visiting www.rnid.org.uk/hearingmatters (external link) or calling 0844 800 3838.

For further media information, contact:

Alan Dalziel, RNID Media Officer, on telephone: 020 7296 8388 or email: alan.dalziel@rnid.org.uk

Notes for editors:

RNID Northern Ireland is the largest charity working to change the world for the 219,000 people in Northern Ireland who are deaf or hard of hearing. We do this with the help of our members by campaigning and lobbying, raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss, providing services and through social, medical and technical research.
For more information about RNID Northern Ireland, visit www.rnid.org.uk (external link), contact RNID's Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email information@rnid.org.uk
RNID is proud to be The Co-operative Charity of the Year for 2009. As part of the partnership, we are encouraging everyone to check their hearing by visiting www.rnid.org.uk/hearingmatters (external link) or calling 0844 800 3838.
Calls to RNID’s telephone hearing check from a BT landline cost up to 5p per minute. Other providers' charges may vary. Call set up charge may apply.

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