A popular volunteer-based project providing vital audiology support for hearing aid users in North Powys and Ceredigion will be closing on 31 March due to a lack of funding.

RNID Cymru's pilot Hear to Help project has provided information, practical support and friendship to more than 1,000 hearing aid users, their families and carers in rurally isolated communities in North Powys and Ceredigion since its launch in September 2004.

The project had been improving quality of life for hard of hearing people and reducing demand on audiology departments by supporting people to get best use of their hearing aids as well as signposting them to other services.

Big Lottery and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action funding for the project ended on 30 September 2007 and continuation funding from other sources has not been secured to date.

Delia Henry, RNID Cymru Interim Director, said: "RNID Cymru thanks all our volunteers who have helped deliver Hear to Help during the last three and a half years and is actively seeking funding provision to resume the service at the earliest opportunity.

"There's currently a gap in support for people using and managing their hearing aids and we'd like to see it as part of mainstream provision. Until this happens, we would love to continue to offer our Hear to Help service, funding permitting. In the meantime, RNID Cymru is committed to campaigning to ensure the demand for high quality support for hearing aid users is met."

12:07pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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