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Volunteers make a positive difference

30th July 2010

Caritas Care’s Bridging the Gap Project has offered a free, impartial advisory and support service to older people with hearing loss since 1996. The project provides a home visiting service offering information, support and assistance in the use and maintenance of NHS hearing aids and offers advice on specialist equipment for example amplified telephones, door bells, loop systems, etc. The project also offers a local service through monthly outreach clinics or ‘drop in centres’. There are currently 19 of these local drop in centres operating throughout the more remote parts of Cumbria: Alston, Appleby, Askam, Barrow/Walney Island, Brampton, Carlisle, Cockermouth, Coniston, Egremont, Kendal, Keswick, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Maryport, Millom, Milnthorpe, Whitehaven, Wigton and Workington.

With funding from the Big Lottery, Bridging the Gap aims to reach 6000 people with hearing loss over the next 3 years. We aim to enhance their hearing through practical advice and support so improving their quality of life, communication skills and social opportunities.

In order to reach this target we need the help of enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers. Caritas Care offers a full induction and training programme to its volunteers. All our volunteers are equipped with the knowledge and skills required and are supported by the Project Worker. Out of pocket expenses eg travel costs can be met with prior approval.

If you are interested but would like to learn more, we can arrange for you to speak with some of our current volunteers to whom we are indebted for their loyalty and dedication to Bridging the Gap and to their local community. Our volunteers have many positive experiences which they are willing to share. Here are some examples:

“I recall an elderly couple who came into the HEAR (Hearing, Advisory and Resource) Centre in Carlisle to ask about telephones. The most important event in their lives was the weekly Sunday morning call from their grandson in Australia. They were worried that they were finding it increasingly difficult to hear what was being said by their grandson. I was happy to be able to demonstrate some equipment and offer some practical advice. They were so pleased with the outcome that they called in again a few weeks later, just to tell me how well it worked and how much it added to their enjoyment of the call that they could both take part at the same time. What a delightful couple and what an admirable sounding grandson! It was a pleasure to be able to help them.”

“One of my best memories is that of a diminutive Irish lady, well into her eighties but still with a twinkle in her eye. She usually tells me a story or two about her time as a missionary and shares a joke. Preliminaries over, she proceeds to cajole me into giving her twice the usual number of batteries for her hearing aids on the grounds that “it will save me little legs if I don’t have to be running down here all the time”. She is typical of the many sparkly elderly people I have met while working as a volunteer at the centre (which is very encouraging since we are all heading in the same direction) and a joy to serve.”

“I didn’t really imagine that I could make a difference but the first realization was when I had offered nothing more than a friendly welcome, a comfy chair and my time. I realized that my actions had helped a person with hearing loss to take a step towards asking for help. It had taken her weeks to pluck up the courage to drop in to the centre for advice and support.”

“I have learned so much from meeting these people that I feel I have been the one to gain.”

If you feel that you would like to join our team of volunteers and help those experiencing the isolation and loss of confidence often felt by those with hearing loss then please contact:

Hugh Stirling
Team Leader
Bridging the Gap Project
Caritas Care Limited
Unit E, Moor House Courtyard
Warwick on Eden
CARLISLE CA4 8PA

Telephone: 01228 56 26 91
Email: hughstirling@caritascare.org.uk