- Aim: Increase regional coverage of outreach information services by 20% including through development of a new tinnitus outreach service. Continue to develop RNID’s website as the destination of choice for information on deafness and hearing loss to reach 120,000 visitors a month.
- Impact: Our outreach information team of staff and volunteers increased the number of face-to-face contacts by 17% across the UK to 37,846.
We also made 3,289 face-to-face contacts with people with tinnitus though our outreach information work, a 50% increase on last year. Our website was visited by an average of 116,389 visitors a month.
- Aim: Improve the effectiveness of audiology services by securing three new contracts by March 2008 to deliver audiology support services and provide volunteers to support hearing aid wearers.
- Impact: We have secured three new audiology support services in the last 12 months, carrying out simple maintenance, support and signposting. In Milton Keynes and on the Isle of Wight these services are funded by Primary Care Trusts. In the Royal Borough of Kingston we have developed a service in partnership with local statutory agencies including Age Concern and other voluntary groups.
As well as helping to create capacity in audiology departments, our services enable clients to live independently, reducing the need for more complex care. We are continuing to develop our coverage and will start two further new services in south and west London during 2008/9.
- Aim: Develop an active local community presence that delivers impact through volunteering projects, mentoring and social support for people who deaf or hard of hearing.
- Impact: We currently have approximately 2,000 volunteers working on 25 projects across the UK, including supporting people in Manchester with tinnitus and helping people in Northern Ireland get used to their hearing aids.
We have also worked with other organisations, such as Samaritans, to encourage people who are deaf or hard of hearing to become volunteers.
We are increasing resources in this area and plan to resume development work over the next year.
Cilla & Donna's story
Cilla and Donna have been running a club for older deaf people for two years. They provide an invaluable service to their members and enjoy a rewarding experience in return. “We enjoy doing our bit for them and we hope they enjoy us doing it.” Cilla.
“Cilla and Donna are fantastic – they’re lovely people. It’s interesting, something to look forward to and what I appreciate most is the friendship. This means a tremendous amount to me.” Iris, club member.
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Did you know...
200 tonnes
this is how much RNID has reduced its CO2 emissions.