wellbeing

We recently had the pleasure of meeting some of the incredible team at Hear for Norfolk, a charitable company founded in 1898.

Based in Thorpe St Andrew in Norwich, Hear for Norfolk is the working name for Norfolk Deaf Association whose work aims to improve the lives of young people and adults of all ages in Norfolk with all degrees of hearing loss.

Hear for Norfolk provide personal, emotional and practical support, including hearing aid maintenance, ear wax removal, information on hearing loss and training for organisations and businesses looking to provide more support for their customers and employees.

The charity’s core services include:

Aural Care Services – expert, professional ear wax removal using microsuction (£50 fee, ages 10 & over) & ear otoscopy to screen for ear health issues

Adult Audiology – NHS-funded hearing tests and assessments for people aged 50+ with age-related hearing loss

Hearing Support Services – hearing aid maintenance, repairs & fitting for NHS-issued hearing aids

Many of their services are free of charge and patients can either be referred by their GP or can self-refer to get help with their hearing health and wellbeing as soon as possible (provided that they are registered with Medical Practices in the Central Locality of Norfolk & Waveney ICB).

The team also runs mobile community clinics visiting several Norfolk towns and villages, to provide Aural Care & Hearing Support Services (on an appointment only basis).

Did you know? Around one-third of adults over the age of 65 have some degree of hearing loss. It can impair quality of life by causing loneliness, social isolation, loss of independence, frustration, cognitive decline and communication issues.

If you would like to make an appointment with Hear for Norfolk for their Audiology Services, please visit https://www.hearfornorfolk.org.uk/ email audiology@hearfornorfolk.org.uk or call 01603 404440

Hear for Norfolk are also looking for volunteers, trustees and fundraisers – please visit https://www.hearfornorfolk.org.uk/supporting-us/ for more information.

We’re proud supporters of Anxiety UK and like to ‘do our bit’ by helping out their Communications team however and whenever we can! For the last few years, we’ve been providing a proofreading service to assist with the publication of their quarterly magazine, Anxious Times. We’re pleased to add that we’re now also offering support with their social media profiles on Twitter and Facebook!

Although a charity relying on generous donations, Anxiety UK provides an unrivalled support service to those suffering from anxiety and related disorders such as panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder and a range of phobias. Their website and telephone service provide a lifeline for those who are deeply affected by debilitating feelings such as intense fear and distress:

“Anxiety UK receives more than 15,000 calls to the helpline and requests for support via email each year and more than 30,000 new visitors to their website a month. Since 1970, the charity has provided essential support to more than 1 million people throughout the UK.”

AUK volunteers are mostly healthcare professionals or those with direct experience of an anxiety disorder, which enables them to offer a uniquely personal advice service for anyone who is experiencing anxious thoughts and feelings or if they’ve just been diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder by their GP.

The AUK team works tirelessly to provide a wellbeing support service for thousands of people across the UK and we wanted to show our support too. Lots of people choose to run a marathon or jump from a plane to raise money for their charity but to be honest, we’re just not that brave! (and hats off to those who are!) Instead, we’ve chosen to offer whatever skills we can to an organisation which has the best interests of its members at its heart; strives continuously to raise awareness of anxiety and reminds us that we can all do a little something extra to support each other through difficult periods.

For more information visit: http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/

Follow on Twitter @AnxietyUK

Like on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anxiety-UK-official/159459797431438