Alison’s update
Our volunteer co-ordinator, Alison, offers a round-up of other volunteer news for November.
If you have any updates you would like to share with your fellow volunteers, be sure to let Alison know. Drop her an email at alison.coyle@hearinglink.org.
Heather Jackson Award 2023
Last month we announced the winners and runners up for the Heather Jackson Award. Although we did not win, we were represented by, not just our HLS volunteer Emmanuelle, but also Hearing Dogs’ Fundraising Volunteer Margaret . Margaret was nominated by our friends at Hi Kent where she volunteers. Margaret is also involved with Thanet hearing aid aftercare clinics and in 2021 became the group leader of the new Thanet Social Group, having been Secretary for its hard of hearing club for many years. Congratulations once again to all the Award-winners.
“I have been lucky enough to work with Margaret since I started working for Hearing Dogs. It is always a joy to be around Margaret, her husband Roger, and hearing dog Logan, who you can see has made such a positive and vital difference to their life. Margaret is always willing to help, she is enthusiastic and extremely dedicated to the work of Hearing Dogs and ensures that we are reaching new people and spreading awareness as well as raising vital funds. I am so proud of Margaret for being a runner up for the Heather Jackson Award – it is very well deserved. The award is made annually to a deafened person who has made a significant contribution to the improvement of the welfare and opportunities of deafened people as well as enhanced positive relationships between deafened and hearing people. This is Margaret, and I am glad she has been awarded for all her hard work.”
Rachel, Community Fundraising Manager.
Gaynor’s new novel
Some of you will remember Gaynor from when she gave a presentation to Hearing Link volunteer speakers. I particularly remember her talking about taking her hearing dog Indigo into the prison where she works as a probation officer. She has now written a novel and told me:
“I was motivated to write this book, as my beautiful Hearing Dog Indigo, has made such an incredible difference to my life. I feel that there is very little representation of deafness in literature. I hope my story of overcoming the challenges of being deaf, inspires those who may feel marginalised, and remind them, we are so much more than our disability.
The book follows the challenges and tribulations of growing up deaf in a hearing world. Well-meaning professionals focused on my disability rather than my ability. Classroom bullies at school left a long legacy that deafness is something that should be hidden.
Fast forward to 2012, I was partnered with Indigo who was trained by the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. I learnt to work with him and understood that I no longer needed to face my disability on my own. Indigo provides a positive deaf identity, brings his own personality, charm, and spreads joy to many people we meet. These include those in my world of work as a probation officer in the Criminal Justice System, both in the community and prisons.
My story offers a window into the world of deafness, the role of hearing dogs, and my work as a probation officer in the Criminal Justice System. This story is about triumph over disability.
All royalties from the sale of my book will go to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. I am very proud to tell you that to date, I have been able to donate just over £600 to the charity that has given me so much.”
You can read more here and her book is available on Amazon.