People with hearing loss or impairment can now take specially adapted holidays in the UK and Europe, thanks to collaboration between Hearing Concern and hearing aid manufacturer, Widex.
Hearing Concern sought sponsorship from the Danish company to help finance the marketing of its holidays and bring them to a wider audience.
“The Hearing Holidays project will give hard-of-hearing people the opportunity to overcome some of the barriers that hearing loss creates,” said Widex vice-president Tom Westermann.
“At Widex we are very pleased to be able to work with Hearing Concern to support an initiative that helps people with hearing loss to live a happier, more fulfilling life.”
Hearing Holidays use the expertise of mainstream travel companies such as Eurostar, Page and Moy, Saga Holidays, Travel Editions and Atlantic Holidays, but all the special holidays are available only through Hearing Concern.
All tour parties are led by a qualified lip-reader who overseas the smooth running of the trip and acts as an interpreter when required.
Holidays include a four-night tour of mid-Wales costing £345, half board and all excursions; seven nights at Lake Garda for £349, including flights and transfers; five nights in Avignon costing £469, including Eurostar and TGV rail travel plus a full sightseeing programme; and five nights in Yorkshire plus excursions in Herriot country for £419, half board.
Tours planned for 2006 include the Canaries, Madeira, Cyprus and Amsterdam.
“Thousands of adults in Britain miss out on time away because they have a hearing loss severe enough to deter them from taking a holiday,” said Philip Barron, of Hearing Concern.
“We have taken a lead in addressing this problem with these breaks and thanks to Widex, we are able to offer a wider range of affordable holidays.”
Nearly nine million people in the UK suffer from a hearing loss and for many of them, taking a holiday is a daunting prospect.
Everyday situations like understanding directions, negotiating hotel bookings or car hire can be difficult enough for people with perfect hearing, but for the hearing impaired, these problems can appear insurmountable.
With the help of Hearing Concern and Widex, people with hearing difficulties who might previously have decided not to put themselves through the trauma of organising unassisted holidays can not take a break
.
For more information or a booking form contact Philip Barron, 4 Anselm Close, Croydon CRO 5LY.Tel. 020 8680 2229, fax 020 8680 2815). Email: philbarron@waitrose.com. Website: http://www.hearingconcern.com
For further information from Widex, go to www.widex.co.uk.