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http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/lymenews/9138833.Lyme_Regis__Volunteers_rewarded_for_life_changing_work_with_deaf_people/
A Lyme Regis volunteer has been recognised for her life-changing work for deaf and hard of hearing people.
Action on Hearing Loss has honoured the outstanding contributions made by its volunteers at an awards ceremony in Dorchester.
Ruth Bizley, of Avenue Road, was one of seven people from Dorset’s branch of the South West Outreach Information Project presented with the charity’s Promotes Teamwork Award.
The project was faced with closure but the team campaigned tirelessly to save the information and outreach services.
In a ceremony at the Brownsword Hall in Dorchester, Mrs Bizley was presented with a trophy and certificate, along with the other volunteers Frank Smith, Richard Fearnehough, Pat Hedges, Alan Fullilove, Mike Walker and Anne Whittle.
Head of volunteering development Jane Bailey said: “Volunteers provide a real heartbeat to the charity. We are absolutely delighted to recognise the tremendous and inspiring work that the South West Outreach Information Project and our other volunteers do to improve the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people.”
Mrs Bizley, 45, has had hearing loss since she was a child, which has progressively worsened as she has grown older.
She wears two hearing aids but now finds speech sounds too distorted to be able to rely on them, so uses lip reading 95 per cent of the time.
Mrs Bizley has been volunteering for Action on Hearing Loss for more than three years, mainly running information stands about hearing loss and giving advice to people on how to deal with their hearing loss.
The mother-of-three counts herself lucky because she has had her whole life to adapt to hearing loss.
“I grew up lip reading without having to think about it,” she said.
“For those who lose their hearing suddenly or start to lose their hearing later in life, it can be difficult to come to terms with and to know where to go for help and support.
“I feel that I’m able to use my experience to help others, which is very satisfying, and helping people to feel more positive about their hearing loss.”
Mrs Bizley is married to Richard, who is profoundly deaf but recently had a cochlear implant, and they have three children, Laura, Katie and Michael, who have no hearing problems.
She recently finished training as a lip reading teacher and runs a class in Lyme Regis. She will be taking over classes in Bridport and Exeter in September, and hopes to start a class in Axminster.
People can meet others with a hearing loss, share experiences, learn about communication tactics, and how to deal with difficult situations.
A Lyme Regis volunteer has been recognised for her life-changing work for deaf and hard of hearing people.
Action on Hearing Loss has honoured the outstanding contributions made by its volunteers at an awards ceremony in Dorchester.
Ruth Bizley, of Avenue Road, was one of seven people from Dorset’s branch of the South West Outreach Information Project presented with the charity’s Promotes Teamwork Award.
The project was faced with closure but the team campaigned tirelessly to save the information and outreach services.
In a ceremony at the Brownsword Hall in Dorchester, Mrs Bizley was presented with a trophy and certificate, along with the other volunteers Frank Smith, Richard Fearnehough, Pat Hedges, Alan Fullilove, Mike Walker and Anne Whittle.
Head of volunteering development Jane Bailey said: “Volunteers provide a real heartbeat to the charity. We are absolutely delighted to recognise the tremendous and inspiring work that the South West Outreach Information Project and our other volunteers do to improve the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people.”
Mrs Bizley, 45, has had hearing loss since she was a child, which has progressively worsened as she has grown older.
She wears two hearing aids but now finds speech sounds too distorted to be able to rely on them, so uses lip reading 95 per cent of the time.
Mrs Bizley has been volunteering for Action on Hearing Loss for more than three years, mainly running information stands about hearing loss and giving advice to people on how to deal with their hearing loss.
The mother-of-three counts herself lucky because she has had her whole life to adapt to hearing loss.
“I grew up lip reading without having to think about it,” she said.
“For those who lose their hearing suddenly or start to lose their hearing later in life, it can be difficult to come to terms with and to know where to go for help and support.
“I feel that I’m able to use my experience to help others, which is very satisfying, and helping people to feel more positive about their hearing loss.”
Mrs Bizley is married to Richard, who is profoundly deaf but recently had a cochlear implant, and they have three children, Laura, Katie and Michael, who have no hearing problems.
She recently finished training as a lip reading teacher and runs a class in Lyme Regis. She will be taking over classes in Bridport and Exeter in September, and hopes to start a class in Axminster.
People can meet others with a hearing loss, share experiences, learn about communication tactics, and how to deal with difficult situations.