Organisations in Brecon & Radnorshire who excel in ensuring they are accessible to the one-in-six people in Wales who are deaf or hard of hearing are being encouraged to enter a prestigious awards.

The Action on Hearing Loss Cymru Excellence Wales awards recognise businesses and organisations who take steps so that the 575,500 people in Wales who are deaf or have hearing loss can use their services.

Action on Hearing Loss, formerly RNID, has been a charity supporting people who are deaf or have hearing loss since 1911, and launched the Excellence Wales awards last year in an effort to celebrate success and raise standards in the support organisations offer to staff and the everyday services available to people affected by the condition.

The charity’s statistics show that deafness and hearing loss is on the rise and that by 2035, one-fifth of people in Wales will be affected, often with devastating effects to their daily lives.

The 2016 Excellence Wales awards are open to all public services, private companies and voluntary organisations providing services in Wales. Entries will be judged by a panel of people who are deaf or have hearing loss, and awards presented to the country’s three outstanding organisations at a glittering gala dinner at Cardiff’s Marriott Hotel on May 20th 2016, presented by journalist Mariclare Carey-Jones alongside special celebrity guests.

A special award will also be presented to an organisation in Wales who is taking positive steps to improve and develop their services for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. For the first time this year, a People’s Choice award will be voted for by the public and awarded to an organisation which provides outstanding assistance to people who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Jackie Poley, Action on Hearing Loss Cymru Volunteer, Brecon said: “There’s a close-knit deaf and hard of hearing community in Brecon & Radnorshire but their condition can make life a daily struggle. It can be hard to comprehend just how difficult it can be to do simple things the general population take for granted. Checking a balance or querying a bill with an organisation can be confusing, frustrating and upsetting if the right access isn’t in place. The tragedy of this is that the solutions are often so simple, particularly now with the technology available to support good communication. The good news is many companies in Brecon & Radnorshire are getting it right, and the benefits are there for both sides; three quarters of our members said they would be more likely to use a service if their staff were deaf aware.

“That’s why we’d urge all organisations who are taking steps to be more accessible by the 575,500 people in Wales who are deaf or hard of hearing to enter our Excellence Awards. It’s vital to recognise those who are leading the way and the awards create the perfect platform for them to act as role models for others across Brecon & Radnorshire.”

Further information and applications forms are available by emailing [email protected] or calling 02920 333034 and tickets to the gala dinner can be booked by visiting www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/gala

Entries must be submitted by May 1, 2016. All winners will be announced at Action on Hearing Loss Cymru’s Gala Dinner on May 20, 2016, when the achievements of organisations around Wales will be recognised.