Befriending Support for deaf people and people with hearing loss in Wales

The last two years have been a difficult time for many people, especially deaf people and people with hearing loss. Many of us have felt isolated, and in need of a regular catch up to brighten our day.

RNID and the Centre for Sign-Sight-Sound can offer befriending support to people with hearing loss in Wales through the Live Well with Hearing Loss “Time for Me” service.

The service provides regular one on one support through volunteers over ten sessions, either in person, over the phone, over video call or through letters. Volunteers are fully trained in how to communicate with people with hearing loss, and will be matched to service users based on your needs and interests. You do not need to be a hearing aid user to take part.

A lady with hearing loss who recently benefitted from befriending support said: “I look forward to each call from the volunteer. It makes me feel at ease...I thoroughly enjoy it.”

The Live Well with Hearing Loss project is funded by the Welsh Government and delivered in partnership by RNID and the Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound. The project can also support people who have been diagnosed with hearing loss in the last 18 months, offering three sessions to help you adapt after your diagnosis and access support and information. In addition, our “At Home” service can support you to get the most out of assistive equipment that might help you such as listening devices, amplified telephones and doorbells, loop systems and alarm bells.

For more information about any of our free services, or if you would like to get involved in volunteering for the “Time for Me” Befriending service, please contact us on: 

LiveWell.Cymru@rnid.org.uk or call 01492 530012 (North Wales) or 0808 8080123 (South, West and Mid Wales)