A couple from Knaresborough in North Yorkshire have been presented with an award by HRH The Princess Royal, on behalf of national charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, of which she is Patron, for their service to the charity as volunteers.
Eleanor and Derrick McRobert were presented with the award by The Princess Royal at a special ceremony at the Beatrice Wright Centre in Bielby, East Riding of Yorkshire – Hearing Dogs’ northern training centre.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains dogs that change the lives of deaf people by alerting them to important sounds and providing them with constant emotional support and companionship. The charity receives no government funding and relies on its network of generous volunteers to continue its work.
In celebration of the Beatrice Wright Centre’s 10th anniversary, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and The Princess Royal presented six awards to volunteers in Yorkshire who have gone above and beyond in their support of the charity – giving up their time to help train and care for dogs that will one day change the life of a deaf person.
Eleanor and Derrick McRobert, from Knaresborough, have been volunteering for Hearing Dogs for 14 years. Over this time, they have been dedicated Puppy Socialisers – helping to train and socialise nearly 30 of the charity’s life-changing puppies. They are also key members of the Hearing Dogs Harrogate and District Fundraising Group, raising vital funds for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, enabling the charity to train more dogs to change the lives of deaf people.
Victoria Leedham, Volunteering Manager at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said: “Eleanor and Derrick have 14 years of volunteering service under their belts – selflessly giving up their time to help change the lives of deaf people. They have proven themselves time and time again to be reliable, enthusiastic and always willing to lend a hand and we are indebted to them for everything they do for us.
“Volunteering is a great way to make new friends, have fun and do something meaningful to help others. We have various volunteering roles at Hearing Dogs, including dog fostering, looking after dogs during the evenings and at weekends, socialising puppies, and helping to train dogs at home”.
To find out more about volunteering for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, visit www.hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteer.
