Freemasons

The Harleston-based Freemasons’ Lodge of Marksmen has donated £1120 to Norfolk Deaf Association (NDA). The money was raised by Lodge of Marksmen members at their meetings, clay pigeon shooting events and through personal donations.

Nigel Hood, Past Master of the Lodge said: “My mother has been a volunteer for NDA’s Hearing Support Service for nine years, working on their mobile clinic at Harleston, Diss and Long Stratton, so I know how valuable this is to the community. Older people can find it difficult to maintain their hearing aids and this service is taken to towns and villages, so there is no need for the user to travel to Norwich for help.”

Andrew Klausner, Lodge Charity Steward said: “We always direct the majority of our fundraising to the local community, so this donation will benefit residents of Harleston and surrounding villages. With Nigel’s mother, Diane, being a NDA volunteer, this was the perfect charity to receive our donation”.

Aliona Derrett, Chief Executive, Norfolk Deaf Association: “Thank you so much to the Lodge of Marksmen for their kind donation, which will support the work of our Hearing Support Service’s mobile clinic, which visits 27 towns and villages in the county. Volunteers like Diane are vital to the success of our service, and we were delighted to welcome nearly 40 volunteers to a thank you party in our Norwich head office on the Monday before Christmas.”

The NDA Hearing Support Service’s volunteers offer home visits, as well as the minibus mobile clinic. There are also nearly 100 community clinics; most of which are for residents at nursing homes and sheltered schemes, but some are open to the general public. The volunteers look after hearing aids, replace tubes, fit ear moulds correctly, supply new batteries and provide advice on how to get the most out of hearing aids.

For mobile and community clinic timetables, or information about volunteering see www.norfolkdeaf.org.uk, or contact Norfolk Deaf Association, t. 01603 404440, email [email protected].