Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
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Read all about it
The latest news from Hearing Dogs
Hearing Dogs Anniversary Service & Volunteer
Celebration 2017
To jointly commemorate our 35th Anniversary and national Volunteers’
Week, Hearing Dogs will be holding a celebration service at the church of
St. Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham on Thursday 1 June 2017, from
6pm. The service will include local choirs, hearing dog demonstrations and
readings as well as a reception following the service.
As Birmingham has such great transport links we are delighted to open the
invitation to this event to all Hearing Dog volunteers and hope lots of you
can come. To distribute the tickets as fairly as possible names will be
entered into a draw. Therefore, if you would like to attend, and will be
available on the 1 June 2017, please complete the interest form which can
be found on the page where you download Volunteer News or by going to:
https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteering/volunteer-news/
volunteer-celebration-2017/
We would also like your input for readings for the event. We are looking for
reflections on volunteering and Hearing Dogs in general, but also what it’s
like to be a hearing dog from the dog’s perspective.
If you would like to put forward your thoughts, please send 250-300 words to
Vicky Ryan E [email protected]
R.I.P. Fenton
We would like to especially mention Fenton, our
hearing dog in training, who went missing in
August and was sadly hit by a car after over a
month of searching for him.
Throughout this search period we were
overwhelmed by the support of the volunteer
family and so touched by all the offers of help.
May we thank each and every volunteer that
contributed, whether it was walking the
Ridgeway trail, sharing links on social media,
offering camera equipment or simply kind words
of support, the quest to bring him home safely rallied every area of the
Charity. We are tremendously grateful to you all, and our hearts go out
to those volunteers who loved and knew him best.
2 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
Welcome to the ‘A’ Team!
Andrew Jones—Head of External
Relations i.e. Communications,
Fundraising and Volunteering
Andrew has
worked for
many years
within the
not-for-profit
sector, most
recently with Blind Veterans UK
(formerly St. Dunstan's).
He lives in Reading with his wife, two
children and their Cockapoo Ludo.
Angela Brazier—Volunteer
Enquiries & Applications
Coordinator
“I have recently joined the
volunteering department, prior to this
I was a Training from Home and
office volunteer for a couple of years
which I thoroughly enjoyed. Luckily
in my new full-time role at Hearing
Dogs, I haven’t had to relinquish my
volunteering duties and I am
currently ‘B&Bing’ Teal, one of our
gorgeous Cocker Spaniels.
I would like to thank everyone who
has made me feel so welcome and I
look forward to meeting many more
of you.
If you have any questions about
volunteering for Hearing Dogs or can
manage to persuade your friends
and family to volunteer for us too,
then it’s me you need to speak to!”
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Volunteer spotlight
Name: Karen Thomas
Role: Puppy Socialiser
ADI Accreditation Success for Hearing Dogs
Following our recent re-evaluation and after months of behind-thescenes work reviewing paperwork and processes, Hearing Dogs for
Deaf People has once more been welcomed as an accredited
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and Assistance Dogs Europe
(ADEu) member for the next 5 years.
ADI accreditation represents a significant achievement for Hearing
Dogs. It is indicative of our organisation’s strong commitment to
upholding the highest professional standards of excellence within
the assistance dog industry.
What do you get up to?
I provide puppies with a full time
home, from the age of 8 weeks for
around 14 months. In that time, with
the support of my Puppy Training
Instructor, Amie, I get the puppy
used to all sorts of different everyday
situations and obedience training.
Why do you enjoy your role?
I get such joy from watching the
puppies learn; from the first time they
manage to climb the back door step
to them running to the cooker timer!
It is so satisfying helping them reach
their mile stones. Each dog is
different with varied strengths and
sensitivities, but they all have one
thing in common – they are full of
love.
Are you looking after any dogs at
the moment?
I am currently socialising Flo a
gorgeous Cocker Spaniel. She’s a
lovely girl and has recently started
wearing her ‘I’m Learning’ jacket –
she seems very proud to be in her
uniform and looks so smart.
Why do you volunteer for Hearing
Dogs?
I started volunteering after losing my
pet dog ‘J’ after 13 years. She left a
huge hole in my heart and I felt I
couldn’t replace her but struggled
with life without a dog. My friend saw
an advert for Hearing Dogs looking
for volunteers and suggested I
apply…it’s the best thing I have ever
done!
3 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
“Hearing Dogs is a highly professional, healthy and well run
organisation, with highly motivated staff and volunteers, where a lot of efforts are made in order to provide a high quality service to the recipients
and to comply fully to the ADI-ADEu standards.”
- Assessor, Marianne Slingerland
About Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a coalition
of not for profit assistance dogs organisations from
across the world, which began in the United States
in the 1980s. ADI aims to improve the training,
placement and utilisation of assistance dogs, staff and volunteer
education, as well as educating the public about
assistance dogs and campaigning for the legal rights of people with
disabilities partnered with assistance dogs.
ADI has a comprehensive accreditation system and all members
have to be regularly assessed to ensure they meet the high
standards expected of assistance dogs programmes. Find out more
about ADI at www.assistancedogsinternational.org
About Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK)
ADUK is a voluntary coalition of seven assistance
dog charities that aims to promote the freedom,
independence and rights of people with assistance
dogs across the UK.
All ADUK member charities have successfully passed an extensive
accreditation process that covers all aspects of their training and
administration, ensuring they meet the exacting standards set by
ADI and the International Guide Dogs Federation (IGDF).
ADUK is a registered charity and part of ADEu. You can find out
more at www.assistancedogs.org.uk
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Awash with awards
Room to Reward
Hardworking volunteers, Margaret Conrad and
Cathy Plumb from Southampton were recently
treated to a complimentary break at a luxury hotel,
by way of saying thank you to the pair for years of
volunteering for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
The three-night stay was generously provided by
the ‘Room to Reward’ scheme, which treats
‘hidden hero’ volunteers to hotel breaks.
The friends met through their Southampton-based
volunteering and together have 35 years’ worth of
service between them as puppy socialisers and
fundraisers.
Volunteer of
the year
2016
Our worthy winner of the 15th Desmond
Wilcox Volunteer of the Year award is Jean
Todd, with heartfelt remembrance of her late
husband Phil.
Jean and Phil volunteered at our Beatrice Wright
Centre and have both held numerous roles
including puppy socialising and public speaking.
The loss of Phil, who passed away in May
following a 10-year battle with Parkinson’s, was
felt across the entire organisation.
“Volunteering is extremely important to me
because I realise that I can give back to society.
It was Phil who introduced me to Hearing Dogs.
One day he said to me completely out of the blue:
‘I’d like to get involved with Hearing Dogs for Deaf
People’ and the rest is history.
Phil had lived with Parkinson’s for 10 years.
Usually at that time people might tend to step back
into the shadows but Phil believed so much in
Hearing Dogs that he wanted to step forward and
do whatever he could. It was important to him.
“Volunteering for Hearing Dogs is, in itself, a rewarding
experience. Taking a tiny puppy into our homes and
watching them grow and develop into a much-loved
assistance dog is an amazing experience. When I first
started, I was impressed with the feeling that I belonged
to a family. That feeling continues to this day. It’s a very
special charity.” - Margaret Conrad
Volunteering Manager Victoria Leedham says:
“I was so thrilled when Margaret and Cathy were
granted this special break thanks to Room to Reward.
They truly deserved to be spoilt and it’s great to hear
they had such a lovely time at the Chichester Harbour
Hotel. The volunteering family is such a crucial part of
Hearing Dogs; we simply couldn’t operate without its
support.”
4 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
Recently we had been looking after Petal, the
Poodle. She was Phil’s constant companion. Then
Phil fell very ill. He went into hospital and was
there for six weeks before he passed away.
Petal came to see him in hospital. He really
appreciated the visit, it was fantastic and really
cheered us all at this difficult time.
He was so proud when we received Volunteers of
the Month in February. He was just so proud to be
a part of it all and the wonderful memories of
Hearing Dogs stayed with him.”
You can read Jean’s story and see her video and
our other winners on our website.
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Volunteers of the month 2016
May • Sophie Biebuyck
Sophie and her hearing dog
Rusty have made a formidable
team since being partnered in
2015. This year alone, they have
raised over £5,000!
“Sophie is absolutely 100%
brilliant!”
Sophie and Rusty are also winners of 2016’s
Hearing Dogs Awards Life-changing Partnership of
the Year.
“I don’t have the same anxieties I had before I had
Rusty. I think something people underestimate is the
effect a dog can have on your mental health – you can’t
be sad when Rusty’s around. He is my best friend now
and he has completely turned my world upside down in
a really positive way.”
June • Judith Smithies
Judith has welcomed over 25
four-pawed trainees into her
home in her time as a puppy
socialiser, as well as being an
accomplished speaker.
“Judith is a great asset to
Hearing Dogs, has a heart of
gold and we are very lucky to
have her.”
July • Yvonne Reynoldson
Yvonne is one of those precious
volunteers who can do no
wrong. Alongside husband Mike
Young, these two are the back
bone of our successful Saffron
Walden Fundraising Branch and
have worked tirelessly for the
charity over many, many years.
“Yvonne has given up so much time and raised a huge
amount of money and awareness. She’s a force for good
and works tirelessly to find new fundraising opportunities
and recruit puppy socialisers.”
Yes, for those eagle-eyed readers, hearing dog
Rusty does indeed feature twice on this page.
What a poser!
5 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
August • Thomas Lankester
Thomas is one of our on-site
dog walkers at The Grange. He
is always friendly and happy to
get stuck in. He religiously walks
4 dogs for half an hour each,
come rain or shine!
“Thomas is a true gentleman
and really appreciated by
everyone at Hearing Dogs.”
Sweeping up! In a twist of extra good fortune,
Thomas also won the raffle at the Late Summer
Show and is now the proud owner of a Seebo
vacuum cleaner!
September • Brenda & Tony Martin
Brenda & Tony had a challenge
with their first pup Peppa. They
dedicated much time and
worked hard with their trainer,
Michelle, to help Peppa
overcome her high ‘dog
distraction’. Thanks to their hard
work Peppa has now gone on to
her advanced soundwork
training.
“Brenda & Tony have experienced the real rollercoaster
of puppy socialising and come up smiling and laughing –
they’re just great!”
October • Anna & Chris Burmajster
Since joining us in 2011, Chris
& Anna have always gone over
and above in their role as B&B
volunteers, making - whilst they
both worked in London exceptional logistical
arrangements to collect and
drop-off dogs on a daily basis.
The couple’s generosity has
also extended from sharing their professional contacts to
gifting flexi-leads.
“The couple are devoted to each and every dog they
look after and will always do their best to see that dog
through to its working life as a hearing dog. You can rest
assured that any dog in their care will get the full love
and dedication it deserves.”
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Deaf Awareness
What is it like to be totally deaf? Jill Hipson explains...
Most deaf people don’t live in a world of total silence, many have some
hearing which can be supported with hearing aids or a cochlear implant.
I was plunged into a world of silence after contracting
meningitis when I was 5. I didn’t get usable hearing aids
until I was 15. They were old-style, grey, body aids which
were in a harness worn round my chest and had wires
going from the aids to my ears. I loathed them, and I still
couldn’t hear anything with them on, I did my best to try
and get rid of them – my mum often had to fish them out
of the bin, search around the house for them, even find
them in the garden where I’d tried to bury them.
I gave up using hearing aids 16 years ago when I realised that I couldn’t
identify noises that were coming through them and they didn’t help with my
lip-reading. This decision was precipitated by the fact that I’d been turned
down for a cochlear implant. Since then, I have lived in silence.
Living with total deafness, your other senses become heightened to
compensate. I can smell food burning on the stove from upstairs, my sight
is better – I notice reflections on windows and cars, these can help me see
what’s coming up behind. Loud noises are felt as vibrations – I can feel
very loud and low noises like motorbikes, cars with modified exhausts and
huge lorries.
Cued Speech. What is it?
We will be holding a session on Cued
Speech at The Grange on Thursday
1 December 10am-12.30pm, all are
welcome to attend.
Cued Speech is a brilliantly effective,
deaf friendly way to communicate
visibly. If you are interested in languages
or have hearing loss and would find it
better by having spoken language made
clearer, then this could be an interesting
session.
To find out more, or to attend please
contact Nicholas Orpin
E [email protected]
Observing the behaviour of my pets and people around me really helps to
know something is happening. With my dog, for example, if there is a noise
outside, I can tell from the way he sits up and starts reacting to the noise. If
I’m at a railway station, waiting for a train – I can work out what’s going on
from the people around me. If people suddenly stop looking at their phones
and start listening to the tannoy, their eyes look upwards and their heads
tilt as they concentrate on the announcement. If they then pick up their
luggage and start moving I know it’s a platform change.
In shops and the supermarket, I can tell if there is someone behind me
shouting at me by the way people in front of me react. If they stop what
they’re doing and start staring at me I know to look behind! Unfortunately,
this doesn’t always work. On one occasion, I was at the cash machine in a
bank, once I had my money, I turned round only to see an old lady had
fallen on the floor behind me. There were two bank staff with her putting a
coat over her and a cushion under her head, and a third phoning for an
ambulance. They all looked accusingly at me. I was so mortified. I just said
‘sorry, I’m deaf’ and stumbled out of the bank.
One thing I do miss a lot is people at the door. We’ve got a gadget that
flashes when someone rings the doorbell, it sits next to my PC screen, but
if I’m sitting elsewhere, I can’t see it. This has led to awkward situations –
postmen and delivery men can see me through the window, but there is no
reaction to the doorbell... until my hearing husband shoots down the stairs,
usually with his work phone in his hand, and opens the door. He has to
deal with lots of grumpy delivery men, but I think others have sussed out
I’m deaf.
If you, or someone you know may need a hearing dog, you can find out
more about applying for one on our website.
6 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
Get your hearing tested and
support Hearing Dogs
Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care
have teamed up with Hearing Dogs
and are offering hearing tests for the
suggested donation of just £10.
You can find out more and download
your invitation at:
http://www.leightons.co.uk/blog/
leightons-news/help-train-a-hearingdog/
Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care
have several branches in the South
East of England.
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Hearing Dogs Website!
We launched our brand new Hearing Dogs
website in June, we love it and we hope you
do too!
You can take a look at
www.hearingdogs.org.uk
A key aim of the new website is to give a
better insight into how we train our puppies
and how our hearing dogs help deaf people.
You'll see entire sections of the site are now
dedicated to this purpose. In total there over
100 pages so there's lots to explore. Maybe
you’ll even find a photo of yourself or your
dog!
In the community
We’ve created a brand new section of the
website called ‘In the community’. The idea is
to showcase photos of activities going on
around the charity each month, with a short
note about the activity. It's a great way to help
demonstrate the value we place in community
engagement and our volunteering family across
the UK.
How can you get involved?
Please submit photos that you think might
be suitable, together with a few words about
what’s going on and who’s in the shots.
We will upload a selection of photos each month.
Please send any submissions to Fredrica Bowkett-Slater
E [email protected]
7 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
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Social Media
Top of the pups!
Thank you to Catherine Steyn, for
this fab photo of Inca patiently
waiting for her toys to dry. It has
been our most popular Facebook
post ever with over 3.9k reactions
(likes/loves etc), 2.2k shares and a
reach of 458k people!
Please keep sharing your wonderful
puppy pics on Yammer or send
them to
[email protected]
Hearing Dogs are on Snapchat! Hearing Dogs have
just joined Snapchat – and we're so excited to share
exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage of our training
centre in Buckinghamshire, with lots of cute puppy
pics and videos! You can add us by our username
‘hearingdogs’.
We adore this gorgeous photo of hearing
dog puppy Hetty which has been edited on
the Prisma app by Tony Lewry.
New group on Yammer:
Fresh from the archives
A new group has been started on
Yammer to share and enjoy Hearing
Dogs memorabilia, with perhaps a few
trips up memory lane too! We’ve had
some great photos so far and would
love to see more.
Does anyone else remember the ‘yellow’ era?
Hearing Dog Scampi with his look-a-likes!
8 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
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Focus on Fundraising
The Great British Dog Walk 2017
Our annual Great British Dog Walks will be held at the following
locations in 2017. We hope you can join us at an event near you,
either as a walker or as a volunteer.
Frankie Goes to Europe
Colin Allison, husband of recipient
volunteer Kirsteen with hearing dog
Frankie, took part in a unique
fundraising challenge by travelling
through 8 countries in 4 days as part of
the James Bond Fireball Car Rally.
The challenge involves being given a
set of co-ordinates for a meet up every
evening with other challengers and it
was up to Colin to find his own way to
each site (no postcodes/sat navs). He
drove over 300 miles, through France,
Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Italy,
Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and
Belgium and toy ‘stunt’ dog Frankie
was by his side all the way! Over
£1,100 was raised, with more still to
come in. Well done Colin & Frankie!
Keep an eye on the website for additional venues to these being
confirmed:
12 March
18 March
19 March
25 March
Gibside, Tyne & Wear
Sheffield Park, East Sussex
Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
Croome Court, Worcestershire
2 April
9 April
22 April
29 April
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire
Margam Park, South Wales
Hughenden Park, Buckinghamshire
Windsor Great Park, Berkshire
7 May
Whitelees Windfarm, Glasgow
Ickworth Park, Suffolk
Igtham Mote, Kent
Lyme Park, Stockport
Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire
Kedleston, Derby
Foxbury Common, Hampshire
13 May
14 May
20 May
21 May
No longer recycling ink cartridges &
mobile phones
The company we were working with to
4 June
Stowe, Buckinghamshire
recycle ink cartridges and mobile
10 June
Haddo Country Park, Aberdeenshire
phones are unfortunately no
longer offering us the same service we
Helping hands are needed at each of our walks. Could you be a walk once enjoyed.
guide or marshal, drive the Pupmobile or help at the registration
tent? If you’re able to volunteer for a few hours at any of the walks,
please get in touch with the Volunteering Team:
E [email protected] or T 01844 348122
9 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
If you have a box still waiting for
collection, contact the fundraising
team, otherwise please make
alternative recycling arrangements.
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Staff changes within the Community Fundraising Team
We are lucky to be welcoming several new members to the fantastic
Community Fundraising Team.
Eileen Botterill (Area 4)
“I have worked in the charity sector for over 12 years.
As a deaf person myself I am fully aware of the issues
and challenges facing deaf people, and after following
the fantastic work of Hearing Dogs for years it was a
great privilege to finally join the team.”
Eileen is covering Lucy Ward’s maternity leave.
Sophie Meadows (Area 7)
“With a background working for the NHS and Citizens
Advice, joining Hearing Dogs is a new and exciting step
for me. Outside of work I have my hands full with my
recently rescued 4 month old puppy, Stanley.
We love going for walks on the beach and spending
Sundays roaming the countryside before finding a lovely
dog friendly pub for roast dinner.”
Michelle Sapwell (Area 8)
“I have been a volunteer with Hearing Dogs for 10
years, as a puppy socialiser and then as a member
of the Milton Keynes Branch (later becoming
chairman of the branch). Being a fundraiser was
very different from my day job as a Crime Scene
Investigator for Thames Valley Police! Having spent
23 years attending murder and other serious crime
scenes and seeing the awful way people can be
towards each other, it was really refreshing
working with Hearing Dogs and seeing the other,
very generous side of human nature.
Joining the charity as a volunteer changed my life
for the better – restoring my faith that there are
many good people out there!”
Lauren Maher (Area 10)
“I volunteered with Hearing Dogs for 4
years before starting this role, helping
socialise 3 gorgeous puppies. I also have
my own pet dog Teddy. I love travelling
and I spent a year travelling the world in
2015, volunteering where I could at
shelters and orphanages on my
exploration around Asia, New Zealand,
Australia & America. I hope I can share my enthusiasm for people and
animals within the work I do here at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People."
Davina Morgans (Area 17)
“I have come from a charity and fundraising
background and I’m loving my new role at
Hearing Dogs. I have already met some of my
wonderful volunteers and seen the amazing
work they do and I am really looking forward to
meeting the rest over the next few months. I
love dogs and have a rather stubborn Spanish
Water Dog called Dibley and as his breed
suggests he loves water so we spend a lot of
time taking walks by the sea.”
10 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
Not sure who to contact?
Find your local Community
Fundraising Manager below
Area 1: Midlands
Vicky Ryan T 07824 329063
E [email protected]
@VickyHearingDog
Area 2: South East England &
SW London
Nicholas Orpin T 07917 170122
E [email protected]
@nicholasorpin2
Area 3: Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex,
Cambridge & NE London
Rachel Clarke T 07769 901291
E [email protected]
@RachHearingDogs
Area 4: North East England
Eileen Botterill T 077699 01292
E [email protected]
@EBHearingDogs
Area 5: Scotland
Carol Jones T 07436 542544
E [email protected]
@CarolHDogs
Area 7: North West England, North
Wales & Northern Ireland
Sophie Meadows T 07769 901297
E [email protected]
@SMhearingdogs
Area 8: Northern Home Counties &
NW London
Michelle Sapwell T 07769 901305
E [email protected]
@MJSHearingDogs
Area 10: Mid-West England & South
Wales
Lauren Maher T 07769 901281
E [email protected]
@LMHearingDogs
Area 14: Peterborough
Gill Yeates* T 07824 453319
E [email protected]
@GillYeates
*Also National Fundraising
Manager—Regional Team
Area 17: Kent, East Sussex &
SE London
Davina Morgans T 07435 964466
[email protected]
@DMHearingDogs
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First class fundraising!
Since January 2016, our used stamp collection has raised...
Thank you to everyone who has contributed by sending in your
used stamps. We are hoping that we can reach £16,000 by the end
of the year!
Get a group involved
Are you part of a group, or know someone who is? We have
Brownies, Rotary clubs, schools and many more collecting stamps for
Hearing Dogs. Request a box, pin up your envelope, display a
poster; if you can help in any way, we would really appreciate it!
You can download the stamp collection point poster from the
website at www.hearingdogs.org.uk/donate/stamps
We are aware of, and apologise for, any delays in envelopes being
sent out, which may be stopping you from getting your stamps to us.
If you require a stamp collection box or envelope please contact
E [email protected]
Speakers’ Corner
The Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir recently selected Hearing Dogs to raise
money for at their annual concert in Oxford Town Hall in October. Huge
thanks go to volunteers George & Sharron Jenkinson for organising the
event. Over £700 was raised! Volunteer speaker, Christine Ellis, did a
fantastic talk in the interval. May we thank all speakers for engaging their
audiences big and small, far and wide.
Hearing Dogs Calendar 2017
Well done to the volunteers whose
beautiful photos were spotted and
selected for our official 2017
Calendar: David Moore, David
Scatchard and Jo Gray.
Our Volunteer News front cover shot
is also by David Moore which came
3rd in the
Community
Impact Bucks
‘Social Action’
photography
competition
and was also
chosen for the
front cover of
their
2015/2016
Report.
11 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
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Updates from around the charity
Breeding Scheme
New recruits, Autumn 2016
I Litter
5 puppies
Names: Indiana, Inca, Marcus, Iris & Isla
J Litter
7 puppies
Names: Jethro, Jade, Janey,
Jasmine, Jensen, Jimbo & Jack
Mum: Cleo
Dad: Kody
Breed: Show X Working Cocker Spaniel
Born: June
Mum: Amber
Dad: Kody
Breed: Show X Working Cocker Spaniel
Born: May
K Litter
11 puppies
Names: Kallie, Kody, Kenny, Kez, Kenzo, Karla, Kit, Kai,
Kimba, Khloe & Kaden
Mum: Venus
Dad: Goldie
Breed: Labrador
Born: August
N Litter
6 puppies
Names: Nala, Nita, Nicky, Nelson, Norton & Nero
L Litter
3 puppies
Names: Ludo, Lilley & Lottie
Mum: Vicky
Dad: Johnson
(Guide Dog)
Breed: Labrador
Born: September
Mum: Lola
Dad: Sena
Breed: Cockerpoo
Born: September
12 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
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Breeding Scheme Updates
As well as our gorgeous ‘in-house’ pups we’ve
sourced 2 Working Cocker Spaniels, 19 Show
Cocker Spaniels, 6 Miniature Poodles and 9
Labradors—including gorgeous chocolate
Labrador, Hudson.
Hello Hudson!
O Litter
We have had several new broods joining the
breeding scheme recently—we look forward to
seeing the first litters from Rose & Megan (Cocker
Spaniels) and Ronnie (Labrador). We also have 2
new studs, Cocker Spaniels Stanley and George.
Retiring from the breeding scheme is Labrador
Lottie who produced 4 gorgeous litters for the
Charity, including our Olympic litter in 2012!
We also say goodbye to Miniature Poodle stud,
Eric, who we wish well in his new career as a Pets
as Therapy (PAT) dog.
6 puppies
Names: Orion, Opal, Ollie, Owen, Odie &
Olaf
Mum: Evie
Dad: Dale
Breed: Show Cocker Spaniel
Born: October
M Litter—Chris Packham Pups!
5 puppies
Names: Max, Micky, Marty, Miley & Meg
Mum: Tandy
Dad: Sena
Breed: Miniature Poodle
Born: September
Our newest celebrity supporter, Chris Packham, is sponsoring one of our pups from Tandy’s recent ‘M’ litter. Chris
Packham loves Poodles and has a soft spot for hearing dogs, because he suffers from Ménière’s disease which
has deafened him in one ear.
Many thanks to volunteer Gillian Bannister for inviting Chris to her home to meet the pups and for the photo shoot.
Volunteering can be tough sometimes huh?!
13 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
Make lots of life changing friends
Puppy Socialising
Buckinghamshire—Kelly Maguire
East Cheshire—Ruth Turner
We have had a fantastic year so far in the North
Bucks Area. We saw the new star awards being
rolled out at the beginning of the year with a
handful of our puppies. Unbelievably, these
puppies will be coming into training soon!
As always it can be an emotional time when dogs
come into training, however, we all know they are
going to make a huge difference to a deaf person’s
life.
Jensen
I have welcomed 5 new puppy socialisers since I
joined in February, my 3 dogs, Fern, Jensen &
Nova all passed their puppy 1 star awards and
Fern & Nova have almost completed the 2 star!
Thank you to all my fabulous new volunteers, in
particular Harro Dorsch, Rob Cooper and Ken &
Margaret Ness who have been helping with local
volunteer recruitment events!
Nova & Fern look very pleased about almost being 2 star pups!
We have been running puppy classes off site with
great success, although my socialisers might
disagree about the muddy puddle incident! We’ve
also been lucky to have children get involved at
classes which has been beneficial to our dogs
training.
I am always amazed by my volunteers’ generosity
with their time and helping each other out. It’s great
to be part of a team who offer support to those
starting out and those that have been doing this for
longer than me. We are currently waiting for the
next young recruits to start their training in a few
weeks. It’s going to be a tough job to dole out
puppy cuddles but someone has to do it!
In training….Watson resists temptation in the meat aisle. Little Kez
cuddles up to her new bestie, Jessie. Leo, Kennedy & Ned have
their first train trip and Jasmine proudly shows off her Puppy 1 star
award.
East Cheshire puppy socialisers from Michelle Taylor and Ruth
Turner’s puppy classes.
14 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
Make lots of life changing friends
Training Team
Beatrice Wright Centre
The Grange
We have welcomed some new dog trainers into
our Training Team over the Summer:
We would like to welcome 2 new volunteer
members to our Demonstration Team; Fiona
Daniels and Jackie Avery.
Hannah Thompson
Fiona already volunteers in several roles, but this
year added another string to her bow by training
brood bitch Ginny to be a level 1 demo dog (on the
way to becoming a level 2). Fiona has also
welcomed back Chilli, one of Ginny’s pups, to her
home to train as a second demo dog and applicant
assessment dog.
“Before joining Hearing
Dogs, I worked at the
University of Lincoln as
part of the Animal
Behaviour team, delivering
lectures and practical
sessions to students. I
have also taught pet dog
and puppy classes at the
University. Prior to that I worked on a project
investigating emotion in dogs. I’m excited to be
working for Hearing Dogs and looking forward to
working with my first dog in training—Ned, a 14
month old Labrador. I have my own 2 rescue dogs
—a 10 year old Labrador called Bruno and a 1
year old Working Cocker called Dotty.”
Charlotte Husband
“I previously worked as a
pet dog trainer, assisting at
local training classes. I'm
also a trained Dog
Groomer and have been
working in Grooming
Salons for 6 years. I have 2
dogs, a 10 year old
Miniature Poodle and an 18
month old Bichon Frise who I have dabbled in
Rally Obedience and Agility with. Now we mainly
just enjoy long walks and fun bits of training.”
Jackie is another fantastic addition to the team,
helping out with setting up and playing the
important part of ‘friend’ or ‘waiter’ during the
demos.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to all
those volunteers at the Beatrice Wright Centre who
helped out at our volunteer recruitment event in
July. We really appreciate all of your support at
these events and look forward to the next one on
Saturday 28 January 2017 and seeing many of you
there again.
We would also like to say a huge congratulations
to Jean Todd for her nomination (and for
winning!) the Hearing Dogs Volunteer of the Year
Award 2016. Everyone at the site is so proud of
Jean and so thankful for all of her support and
involvement.
15 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
Make lots of life changing friends
We need more volunteers!
We are always looking for new people to join our volunteer family, all of our available volunteer
roles are listed on our website.
W www.hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteer E [email protected] T 01844 348122
New puppy socialising posters!
We have produced brand new
puppy socialising posters
featuring adorable Aslan and we
hope ‘Dog lovers wanted!’ makes
our intentions clear! Please
contact us if you live in a puppy
socialising recruitment area and
can help with postering.
Volunteer recruitment
update
We’ve had an outstanding interest
from potential new volunteers over
the last few months, with September
being our highest ever month for
enquiries. Thank you to all of those
volunteers who are out there
spreading the word—you are our
number one recruitment source!
Thanks go to the following
volunteers who have been
mentioned by name:
Hayley Errington, Kim Young,
Deborah Maloney, Jane Studholme,
June Frances, Emma Kirk, Lisa
Emmington, Peter & Sharon
Shepperd and Naomi Thomas.
Do you have school or other
large group contacts?
We have a stock of the ‘Train a
puppy, change a life’ A4 & A5
posters which could be used for
putting in ‘book bags’ for
example. All other ideas for their
distribution gratefully received!
The power of social media
Thanks to a retweet from Green
Hampshire we met new volunteer,
Kathy Christie, pictured here with
hearing dog Barney. Please help us
spread the word by sharing our
tweets & Facebook posts!
Special praise goes to Yvonne
Reynoldson who is a one woman
recruitment machine in and around
Saffron Walden and whose leads
are extraordinary in both their quality
and quantity.
Please get in touch with Lisa Meller
if you are holding any recruitment
or fundraising events and would
like any volunteering posters,
leaflets, information or sign up
sheets for the public to register their
interest. We would also love to hear
about your event.
E [email protected]
Merry Christmas to all of our Hearing
Dogs volunteer family!
Thank you for all your support and hard
work in 2016.
16 Volunteer News • Autumn 2016
Make lots of life changing friends