As we begin Volunteers’ Week, we are taking the opportunity to celebrate the dedication and generosity of the many volunteers who help ministries and community projects flourish across the diocese. Among them are our Hear Here Champions, whose commitment ensures that people in our communities can continue to access vital hearing support and stay connected to the world around them.
Earlier this year, in March, we were delighted to receive a significant boost for the Hear Here programme through a £7,000 grant from the Haslemere Challice Community Fund and the Elder Companionship Fund, awarded via the Community Foundation for Surrey. This funding arrives at an important time, allowing us to strengthen and grow a service that is already making a meaningful difference to older and isolated residents.
At its heart, Hear Here is powered by volunteers, and this grant enables us to invest more deeply in the people who make the programme possible. The funding will support key areas, including volunteer recruitment and training, equipment and supplies, and marketing, helping us both sustain and expand our reach. A major focus will be on delivering high-quality training sessions and workshops, ensuring that our volunteers have not only excellent practical hearing aid maintenance skills but also a strong understanding of the wider impact of hearing loss and the support services available to those they assist.
Over the course of 2026, we plan to train 100 volunteers and deliver 10 dedicated training sessions and workshops. This investment reflects our belief that confident, knowledgeable volunteers are essential to providing a compassionate and effective service—particularly as demand continues to grow and NHS audiology departments face increasing pressure.
Martyna Zabka Mustafa, Hear Here Programme Lead, said:
“We are extremely grateful to the Community Foundation for Surrey for their support throughout the application process and for helping us secure funding for the Hear Here Project. We were delighted to be awarded £7,000 from both the Haslemere Challice Community Fund and the Elder Companionship Fund, and we extend our sincere thanks for the generous support.
This funding makes a meaningful difference, enabling us to expand our accessible hearing aid maintenance services for older and isolated residents. This support is particularly vital at a time when demand is increasing and NHS audiology departments are facing growing pressure.”
For many of the people we support, maintaining their hearing aids is not just about practical care—it is about preserving independence, confidence, and connection. Our Hear Here Champions play a crucial role in this, offering both skilled support and a reassuring presence within their communities.
As we celebrate Volunteers’ Week, this grant is a timely reminder of what can be achieved when communities come together—with volunteers giving their time and energy, and funders providing the resources to make that work sustainable. Thanks to this support, we look forward to continuing to grow Hear Here and ensuring that even more people can benefit in the year ahead.
To all our volunteers across the diocese, and especially our Hear Here Champions, we offer our heartfelt thanks. Your dedication truly makes a difference every day.