Page 7 - Newcastle News Sep 2017

Local News
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a charity that offers greater independence, confidence and companionship to deaf people by training dogs to alert them to everyday household sounds and danger signals in the home, work place and in public buildings. However, not only do hearing dogs alert deaf people to those important sounds and danger signals such as the alarm clock, doorbell, telephone and smoke alarm, they also help their partner to escape the isolation, loneliness and often depression that deafness brings.
Learning to live with deafness can be a devastating experience. Many people say, when they lost their hearing they also lost their sense of security, confidence and independence. Deafness is an invisible disability. Often people withdraw, finding it increasingly difficult to communicate – a hearing dog helps to give deafness that visibility.
Hearing Dogs was launched at the world-famous Crufts dog show in 1982 as ground-breaking work, and since then we have created over 2000 life- changing partnerships between deaf people and hearing dogs across the UK. It is a national charity with a particular focus of developing their work in the North East, so deaf people in the region can be offered the same support as those in the rest of the country. The charity commits to helping more deaf people every year, and there are still thousands of deaf people who could benefit from a hearing dog. However, as the Charity receives no government funding at all, it relies entirely on the support of individuals, companies and organisations to help to continue their life- changing work.
Eileen Botterill, Community Fundraising Manager for the North East region said “I am deaf myself and live in the North East, so I am particularly keen to develop the work of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to the advantage of the people in the North East. It is important to me that people who could benefit from a Hearing Dog know about the service and about how it could improve their life and that of their families.
To be chosen as Charity of the Year for the Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society is a fantastic opportunity and will help raise awareness of Hearing Dogs in the North East enormously, and will encourage more deaf people to find out about the service we offer”.
For more information about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People visit: www.hearingdogs.org.uk
Extra fact:
According to 2015 statistics, there are currently over 11 million people with a hearing loss in the UK; 900,000 of those are severely or profoundly deaf so could qualify for a hearing dog, 45,000 of which are children.
LEGAL SUSTAINABILITY ALLIANCE AND THE PLANET MARK PRESENT THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SUSTAINABILITY
A FREE participative workshop for law firms to encourage organisations to develop sustainable working practices and manage their carbon footprint
Friday 22nd September 12.30pm – 4pm including buffet lunch at Bond Dickinson St Ann’s Wharf 112 Quayside Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3DX
• Need help getting started on a sustainability programme?
• Do you want to extend or reinvigorate your current sustainability activities?
• Struggling to get senior partner buy in?
Then join us for a participative seminar and workshop which presents a compelling business case for sustainability within the legal sector based on 10 years of experience and evidence from the Legal Sustainability Alliance, developed in partnership with industry experts The Planet Mark.
Register via the Legal Sustainability website https://legalsustainabilityalliance.com
Congratulations to the North East firms shortlisted in the Law Society’s National Excellence Awards
Excellence in Client Services
EMG Solicitors Ltd
Excellence in Conveyancing Practice
EMG Solicitors Ltd
Excellence in Private Client Practice
Carr & Co
Emmersons Solicitors Ltd Excellence in Technology Durham County Council Ward Hadaway
GDPR Seminar
Are you ready for the implementation of the new General Data Processing Regulation which will come into force on 25th May 2018. At the invitation of Newcastle Law Society, Pearl Moses, Head of Risk and Compliance at the Law Society will visit Newcastle to deliver a seminar on the following:
• Requirements of the GDPR
• How data can/cannot be used
• Consent
• Penalties
• Preparing for implementation
It will take place on Thursday the 14th of September between 1:30 and 3:30 pm at the offices of Watson Burton. Booking form enclosed. Practice Managers of member firms are welcome to attend.