Tough times for Caithness deaf charity

A CAITHNESS charity which helps people with hearing problems is facing “worrying times” because of budget cutbacks and reduced staff hours reports the John O'Groat Journal & Caithness Courier (10/11/11).

But Deirdre Aitken, the co-ordinator for Caithness Deaf Care, yesterday said she hopes the present funding difficulties will be overcome in the next few years.
She explained that about half of the organisation’s core costs – salaries, heating, lighting and rent – are met by the Highland Council and NHS Highland.
In the past the remaining funding of between £16,000 and £20,000 has been provided mostly from trusts but they, too, are having to make cuts as a result of the current economic downturn.
Mrs Aitken told the Caithness Courier the cutbacks are happening at a time when the charity’s workload is increasing. She pointed out that there are over 1000 people in the Far North registered with the organisation and said around a fifth of them are under 60 years of age.
“We are seeing more people now in the their forties and fifties whereas in 2000 most of the people we dealt with would be retired,” she said.
“They still account for about 80 per cent of our workload but around 20 per cent are people of working age.”
Speaking personally, Mrs Aitken thought that could be a result of people working noisy machinery in the past and not wearing proper ear protection or listening to loud music through headphones over a long period of time.
“Our workload is increasing as our budget has been cut but we are managing to keep going by utilising our volunteers. They have been fantastic and are very conscientious, dedicated and hard-working,” she stated.
Mrs Aitken has had her hours reduced from 21 to 15 a week while another member of staff now works 20 hours instead of 25.
“We have cut the hours and have been using our reserves to keep going but that cannot continue in the longer term,” she said. “These are worrying times but we are managing to make the service work for people. The budget cuts are not impacting too much on the public although some things may take a bit longer to get done.
“We are facing a difficult time but we are hoping the problems will be overcome in the next few years.”
Mrs Aitken explained that in Scotland one in five people are likely to experience some form of hearing loss during their lives.
The charity helps people with hearing problems and gives advice on hearing aids and specialist equipment. It also liaises with NHS audiology which is based in Inverness.
Caithness Deaf Care covers Caithness and Sutherland and has offices in Wick and Thurso.
The latter opened in 2002 with the help of funding from the National Lottery. The offices are open three days a week from 10am to 2pm.