Volunteer of the Month - February 2023 - Joanne Bill

Joanne Bill from Chieveley has been a volunteer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People since 2018 and done a wonderful job of training three qualified dogs so far and is on her fourth, a black Labrador called Bramble.

Joanne has also done fundraising across West Berkshire, which is vital for the Charity, as well as fronting a volunteer recruitment drive, plus PR such as representing the Hearing Dogs at the Macular Society’s Newbury Support Group. All this on top of a busy family life with teenage children, an elderly pet dog, a pony to care for, and still time for a coffee and giggle!

During the first Covid lockdown it was not possible to provide in-person support to our volunteers, but Joanne still managed to successfully train dogs to a fantastic level. Joanne has also provided support to new volunteers in the region, giving them warm encouragement and advice on what it is like to train one of our amazing dogs to accredited assistance dog level, as well as providing valuable first-hand insight for a blog piece about saying goodbye.

Olivia Busby, Dog Training Instructor, says “Jo has showed commitment throughout her time as a volunteer and no task is too much. When out and about she is immensely proud to represent the charity and very much enjoys the process.

Jo is very eager to learn more about the dogs to help them progress in the best way possible. No dog is the same and there may be bumps in the road which are hard to get over, but Jo carries on and always has pulled through with a smile. She has been an amazing volunteer to work with and I know that the dogs are in the best care when they are with her. Even though it is hard to give up the dogs for their deaf partners, she is so proud of them all.”   

Part of the training for our dogs is to take them out and about in their local area, into town and on public transport. Jo is a smiley presence in and around Newbury which helps to spread positive awareness of Hearing Dogs, helping deaf people locally and across the land to feel recognised and understood. 

Taking on a dog in training is a huge commitment for any volunteer because they have the dogs for many months - Jo performs this task to the very highest level, absorbing any training and behavioural advice, and reporting back with clarity. She’s keen to learn, asks all the right questions and consistently works on any issues in her own time. Literally a dream volunteer!

Hollie Gallagher, Operations Learning & Development Programme Coordinator, has nothing but praise for Joanne:

“Volunteer puppy training requires a high level of dedication from our volunteers at the best of times, however, add lockdowns and remote training into the mix, and it’s testament to what a great trainer Jo is that - through determination and dedication – her first dog Ellie attained Hearing Dog Accreditation standard to be placed with a deaf partner.

Jo and I started working together closely in 2021 with Vanilla, a Cockerpoo trainee. Jo was extremely understanding when she was assigned to me, as we didn’t live that close to one another, however she offered to meet at The Grange headquarters to reduce some of my travelling and again adapted with ease to remote support when necessary.

Honestly, nothing is too much for Jo, and her support and passion for the Charity is extremely evident. She wears her volunteer uniform with pride and acts as an ambassador for the charity any time she is out and about.”

Notably, Joanne was also our first ever volunteer to do a podcast! In 2021 she was interviewed as part of the Paul Presents series of conversations with people from the West Berkshire Community. She was seamlessly warm and engaging in speaking about her volunteering role, as well as the benefits of volunteering in general.

Paul Presents describes his podcast as “a place for people from across West Berkshire to share their memories and achievements within the West Berkshire Community - something we can all be proud of as a community together”. We consider Joanne Bill to be exactly that - a charity-minded, smiley, bright light within both our and her own community.