« New association for the deaf launched | Main | For iPod users, a budding problem »
March 6, 2006
Train to be the friend of a young deaf person
The trauma of being deaf or hard of hearing will be eased for children across Wales with help from a pioneering scheme to encourage volunteering. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) has been given a £7,000 Millennium Volunteers grant towards its Peer Befrienders project, which trains young people to provide counselling and befriending for children with hearing difficulties.
The RNID is one of 13 organisations across Wales to be awarded grants totalling £75,875 from the Millennium Volunteers programme, which helps 16-to- 24-year- olds make a difference in their communities while improving their own experiences and skills.
One-in-seven people experiences deafness or hearing difficulties at some point in their lives - about 430,000 people in Wales.
Liz Thomas, RNID Wales fundraising manager, said, "Sadly, many of these people will at times be left feeling frightened, isolated, discriminated against and disempowered because of their hearing difficulties.
By Madeleine Brindley
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/health/tm_objectid=16777845&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=train-to-be--the-friend-of-a-young-deaf-person--name_page.html
Posted by 4HL on March 6, 2006 3:40 AM
Send this article to a friend